2 Chronicles 7:14
14 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.
God spoke to Solomon at the most opportune time.
In 2 Chronicles 6 and 7 the word “if” is so important. How many times have
we called upon God for His blessings, His rescue while still following our old
ways of sin? “If” is such a small word with great impact.
God allowed Israel to fall. They sinned with pride. No shame was in their
lives. Eventually they fell.
A nation, a church, an individual cannot worship God with unconfessed sin in
their lives. The nation will fall, the door of the church will be shut, the
individual will die.
Explosive fire or slow burning rust. Sodom and Gomorrah, we do not know
much about their history but there was the slow burning fire of sin that
engulfed the city. Hearts were turned away from God. They lived a life of
debauchery, deep seated sin against God. Slowly the rusty fire of sin ate
away at them until one day God’s judgement came upon them. The
consuming fire of God’s judgement rained down and they were destroyed.
If what is happening today is not opening the eyes of the world, the eyes of
God’s church, then there is a greater darkness than can be imagined. The
spiritual eyes of the church have been closed for too long. Spiritual pride
has taken over. The church, it seems, is proud of it’s acceptance of sexual
impurity, impure thoughts, the worship of self, an unwillingness to truly
confess our sin. Spiritual pride has overtaken the church. A slow burning rust
has consumed the church of God and the explosion is soon to take place.
Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble
is wisdom.”
Proverbs 16:5, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.”
If God’s people are not willing to confess their sin and turn away from it then
how can we expect the world to do so?