Opus 2021-123: Reminders: #3, Blind Spots

There are certain topics I have written about.  They are worth repeating.  I need to revisit them to refresh my memory and enhance my thinking.  Others need to be reminded.  There is a constant bombardment of ideas that clutter our minds.

It happened again last week.  Someone quoted II Chronicles 7:14 and left out the most important part, the part no one wants to remember.

(2Ch 7:14 KJV) 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 sin, and will heal their land.

Guess which phrase is usually overlooked:  “Turn from your wicked ways”.

Up until that little statement most people can be on board.  We find the idea of being God’s people and being called by His name as potentially beneficial.  If you think about the bloodiest wars, such as the American Civil War, both sides seem to think God is on their side.  It is possible to humble ourselves without actually doing so.  Again, we can feel good about that.  Most people pray even if they don’t know the difference between prayer, thinking good thoughts and cursing.  They can even seek God’s face because most people’s conception of God is pagan and is based on a mirror image.

The following promises are all good.  God will hear us.  God will forgive.  God will heal.  Who could have any problem with that, accept the part about us being sinners needing forgiveness.

The problem is with the in-between, the sandwich filling, the turning.  Turning means change.  Change is inconvenient.  Change makes demands if we do it the way the verse implies.  A word that brings it home is “repent”.  Do a quick run down of the Ten Commandments and ask yourself which ones you are up to date with.

America is at a cross-road.  In a sense that is nothing new.  Each generation needs to make the decision of whether they are going to turn from their wicked ways or go for same-o same-o.  In the past we have had enough people turn that we have not come apart at the seams.  The turning has to take place one at a time.  No one can do it for anyone else.  God will be the one to decide if He just honors us as individuals or as a people.

Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?

homo unius libri