2 Chronicles Chapter 7: 13-14 (NIV)
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In the previous chapter of 2 Chronicles, we read of Solomon’s prayer. In his God-given wisdom he realised that the people, himself included, would not keep God’s laws and ordinances, so he asked that God would forgive them when they came to him in repentance. This is God’s answer to that prayer, much quoted by the church since the day the words were spoken.
In considering these words I had a couple of thoughts –
Firstly, there is nothing in God’s answer that says when you’ve blown it, don’t bother asking for forgiveness. Your sin is too bad, you’re beyond redemption. God says come in repentance and you will be forgiven.
The only condition is that we have to come. So that led me to my second thought. Why is it when we are in a difficult time of trial, be it because of sin, or even a circumstance that is testing, but not necessarily because of sin, are we so tempted to stay away from God? I have heard more than one person say when they haven’t been in church for a while, that they were “taking a break.” That’s the last thing we should be doing! God will not be shocked. He knows our hearts. I have come to the conclusion that the only one who puts such thoughts about staying away from God, is the devil. He doesn’t want us to know the comfort that comes from drawing close to God in times of trial, nor does he want us to know the peace of heart that comes from repentance and restoration. How many times do we read that God, and Jesus during His ministry, said, “Come”. So, whenever we hear a voice in our head telling us to stay away, we know it’s not God’s voice. Let’s be encouraged by this response from God, “Come, seek and I will do as I said.”
Dear Lord,
Although this was an answer to Solomon’s prayer, I am grateful that it still stands right through the ages. Jesus came to ensure that. Help me to remember those words if I am tempted to stay away. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.