"If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn
from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sins, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles
7:14).
I fully realize that this statement from Jehovah
is primarily aimed at Israel of old. However, I also fully realize
that God's principal and fundamental character remains the same
throughout generations. Who is "Israel" today? Who are
the people who are called by His name today? We certainly agree
that it is the church of Christ, do we not?
Speaking of the church of Christ, the apostle
Paul emphasized that we are made up of both Jews and Gentiles.
He writes, "Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews
only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in O`see (Hosea),
I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her
beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that
in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people;
there shall they be called the children of the living God."
(Romans 9:24-26).
The apostle Peter also emphasizes this fact: "But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of
God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
(1 Peter 2:9-10). Peter was certainly writing to the church, to
a "begotten" people, a "born again" people.
(1 Peter 1:3, 22-23).
Indeed, the church of Christ is the family of
God. We are His children. "...that thou mayest know how thou
oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church
of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1
Timothy 3:15). The "house of God" is the "family
of God," and this is "the church of the living God."
God has loved us and called us, through the gospel, into His family.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God ..." (1 John
3:1). We are therefore children of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ. (Romans 8:14-18). We ARE His people!
The passage we began with, 2 Chronicles 7:14,
says that if God's people would humble themselves, pray to Him,
seek Him, and turn from wickedness, He will hear, forgive, and
"heal their land." Almost all readers of this article
are Americans, citizens of the United States of America. Our nation
is in peril, and it is because of wickedness. When God's people
(the church of Christ) are strong and sound, the nation prospers.
However, when God's people become weak and sickly, overlooking
and even condoning doctrinal and moral sins, then the nation in
which they live cannot prosper. Any nation is blessed because
God's people are citizens of it. I have always believed that the
United States of America providentially came into existence and
is strong because of the church of Christ! Our nation is strong
when the few faithful members of the church are strong.
This principle is seen in the record of Sodom
and Gomorrah. The Lord said that He would not destroy those wicked
cities if just ten righteous people could be found there. (Genesis
18:26-33). It is also seen in the record of the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was told that if he could find a righteous man, God would
spare them from Babylonian captivity. (Jeremiah 5:1). Sadly, in
both instances, the few could not be found.
Many, today, are looking in politics for a balm
for our sin-sick society. We are currently immersed in what promises
to be a hotly contested Presidential campaign. I urge Christians
to understand that the cure for our society's ills is not to be
found in a certain political party, but in Christ. Surely you
believe that God is in charge. Christians, do not overly concentrate
your energies and efforts to support some party, but do all you
can to help the church of Christ to be stronger, sounder, more
solidly built upon the verbally inspired Scriptures. Our strength
is in the Lord. (Psalm 18:1-2; 19:14; 28:7; 71:16; Isaiah 26:4;
etc.). We need to be emphasizing God's revealed righteousness
to this dark and lost world and to those children of God who are
in error. (Romans 1:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 2:11-12; James
5:19-20).
"Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin
is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34). When God's
people are truly righteous, following the Word, God will lift
up their nation - whether that nation is the United States or
another. God will bless the nation of those who truly follow His
right ways, even if they are comparatively few in number. The
faithful have always been the few! -P.O. Box 285, Crum, WV 25669.
preechkrum@suddenlink.net