As we listen to the news and observe the culture around us, it’s clear that God is not a significant part of most of our lives. Sin and perversion are rampant. Signs of the End Times are everywhere (Matthew 24:3-31). Sadly, much of it is due to the failure of God’s people to set an example of righteousness.
When we study history, particularly in the Bible, we see that the result of godlessness is always destruction. God repeatedly issued judgment on wickedness in the Old and New Testaments. But God always gave people time to repent before judgment came. Take, for instance, the Flood. God gave the perverted people of that time up to 75 years to repent as Noah built the ark. He used the intercession of Abraham and the appearance of angels to give Sodom and Gomorrah a second chance (Genesis 18:19). He gave the children of Israel time to repent in the wilderness before they were forbidden to enter the Promised Land. This is the mercy of God.
Notice how, in all these stories, God required something of the people before His mercy kicked in. His instructions, as in 2 Chronicles, were prefaced with a big IF.
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:13-14, NKJV, emphasis mine).
Those called by God’s name are His people, and they don’t just include Israel. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, it now includes everyone who believes in Him as Lord and Savior (Romans 11:11-31). But just because we believe doesn’t mean we choose to live according to His Word. We can choose a different path, leading us away from God’s righteousness. That’s when repentance is necessary.
Our Responsibility
Humbling Ourselves
Humbling ourselves is not an easy thing to do. Our pride wants us to remain in charge. It wants us to stubbornly believe that we are correct in everything we do. But according to 1 Peter 5:6, we must humble ourselves under God’s hand so He can lift us up. We must lay our lives, wills, and desires before Him, acknowledging Him as Lord of our lives.
Praying
The Hebrew meaning of prayer in 2 Chronicles isn’t just communication with God. It is interceding, intreating, and making supplication for His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). It is another sign of humility. It is a heart posture that declares we need God and that He is our only solution.
Seeking God’s Face
Seeking God’s face is not a childish hide-and-go-seek game. God does not hide from us. As the Hebrew word translates, He expects us to search Him out, strive after, and desire Him. It also includes beseeching Him for what we need—healing for our land. This is also a sign of humility. We’re acknowledging Him as our source.
Turning from Our Wicked Ways
Turning from our wicked ways is repentance. It’s turning our back on what is wrong and pursuing God and His holiness instead. Once again, humility is here because we are rejecting what our minds and bodies crave. It’s a willingness to give up everything so we can have Him.
His Promise
God never turns His back on honest submission and repentance. His merciful response is:
Hearing from Heaven
Repentance and all its attributes grab God’s attention. As a just God, He promises to hear and listen. It’s not distracted listening, like someone only half listening to a friend while watching TV. The Hebrew word says He hears with intelligence, giving His full attention. This is an honor, because naturally, we don’t deserve it.
Forgiving Our Sin
If hearing from us is not enough, God also promises to forgive us. In the Old Testament, this was based on the sacrifice of animals. As New Testament believers, our forgiveness is based on the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9). He is faithful to do what Jesus was sent to do: cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Healing Our Land
This 2 Chronicles passage refers to the sinfulness and brokenness of an Old Testament nation. God desired to heal whatever had been marred by sin. The same is true for us today. God desires to heal our nations, our families, and individual lives. He is, by nature, a healer of all things…and He is powerful enough to mend it all.
In the Last Days before Jesus returns, there will be judgment on sin—in the world and in the church. It’s not a pleasant thought, but an honest one. That’s why He gives us a warning, urging us to repent from our spiritual laziness. He said He would pour out His spirit on all flesh for a final great awakening (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18), but He must find us humble enough to be vessels for that revival to flow through.
It may not feel like it at first, but joy follows humility and repentance. Sin feels pleasurable for a season but eventually ends in pain (Hebrews 11:25). But when we’re out from under the heaviness of sin, the joy and peace of the Lord replace it (Psalm 30:5). And once again, we are ready to represent Him on earth, paving the way for His return!
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [of His Second Coming], as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV, bracket note mine).
Christa Madrid 