During this time of violence and destruction in our country, we must remember what God told Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:11-16, “So Solomon finished the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.”
Folks, the people of the Lord now is the church. 1 Peter 2:9-10, “ . . . , for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
What does God tell us as believers in Christ to do to heal our nation? 1. Humble ourselves. 2. Pray. 3. Seek His face. 4. Turn from our wicked ways.
If we do that, what does God promise to do? 1. He will hear from heaven. 2. He will forgive our sins. 3. He will restore our land?
Do you realize that in reality Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed for their wickedness? They were destroyed because God could not find 10 righteous people in them. His angels led only 4 people out, and even so, 3 of them had already been tainted by the sinfulness of their environment.
Why don’t we do what God told Solomon? That is the only hope our nation has in this time of instability and turmoil. Why don’t we trust God instead of putting our trust in man?