Heal the Land

"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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." -2 Chronicles 7:13-14

These are the words of God in answer to the prayer made by Solomon at the dedication of the Holy Temple. God briefly lets the people of Israel know that destruction or calamity may occur in the land of Israel where they dwelt due to disobedience on their part. He further lets the people know the proper response if they begin to see this calamity happen to them: humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways. If they would respond in the manner that God detailed it would result in him hearing from heaven and eventually healing their land. Now I want you to know that if that was the way to get things to changed from destructive effects back then, it behooves us to do the same in this day and hour.

Surely we can see that this land is in need of a healing. The Christian heritage that this nation was founded upon is trying to be done away with. Parents are killing their children and the children are killing their parents. Babies are being murdered by the thousands through abortions daily. Homosexuality and the LGBT is advancing its agenda via same sex marriages and social acceptance. Atheistic mentality is on the increase as people are not finding the answers that they are looking for. This land is sick, decrepit, and in need of being healed.

The word 'heal' in the Scripture literally means to mend, to cure, cause to repair or thoroughly make whole. It is further defined as restoring to health or soundness, to bring about the remedy of, to free from sin, grief, worry etc.; purify. This is what we need in the countries abroad and in the one I'm currently residing. This world is sick with sin, atheism, and rebellion and its going to take God to rid and eradicate this poison. Healing needs to take place on 3 levels: Nationally, Communally, and Personally. Lets go to the Scriptures and see how God orchestrates healing to his people in these 3 levels:

In the book of Joshua the seventh chapter, the nation of Israel was attempting to conquer the Promised Land and defeat the enemies that opposed them. They had just had a tremendous victory against the people in Jericho, and from there the started to invade the land of Ai hopeful of having similar success. But something didn't go right and the nation of Israel was defeated in the land of Ai. The Scriptures tells us why:

"Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: enither will I be with oyou any more, except ye destroy the accursed from amnong you."

Because Israel had allowed the accursed thing, otherwise known as a forbidden or prohibited object, to enter into their camp they became tainted and impure. This 'accursed thing' was most likely and object of worship to an idol god in the land of Ai, and God had utterly pronounced that the entire land be destroyed, in other words, everything that opposed the nature of God was to be destroyed. Achan gathered one these objects and made Israel at odds with God. See, we have to understand that God is not going to favor a nation that's disobedient to his commandmants. Sin is defined, in scripture, as the transgression of God's law, therefore sin is against the will and nature or personality of God. God will not back up a country that holds on to things that goes contrary to the law of God, this includes laws made by government and lifestyles lived by people. God won't even fight for a nation that in opposition against him! The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, was a mistake! God destroyed cities because of the stench of homosexuality; do you really think he's going to support an army that the government is allowing something accursed to reside in it? The results will be the same for us as it was for Israel i.e. they wasn't able to stand before their enemies. We need God to heal the Land, and he tells us how in the following verse of Joshua chapter 7:

"Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves agaisnt to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accused thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou const not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accused thing from among you."

This nation needs to return to God and put on sanctification, in other words, they need to separate themselves from the accursed, from sin and rebellion. This nation needs to reinstate the consciousness of God back into our schools by allow the students to pray publicly to God. This nation needs to again adopt the moral and ethical virtues that made this country distinct from countries that didn't acknowledge God. This nation needs to once again remember its pledge: I plege allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Jeremiah was a prophet that was sent to the people of Israel to encourage them to return to the Lord before it was too late. Many times, because of the rejection from the people, Jeremiah found himself in tears due to the inevitable future of Israel, because they were a nation that had rejected God. Similarly today, one cannot help crying when we hear and see of children dying by way of abortion clinics, gang violence, suicides, and corrupt government. Our communities are being debased by promiscuity, beer and alcohol stores, clubs and drug paraphenalia. I feel like Jeremiah when he asked in Eigth chapter and twenty-second verse:

"Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?"

Our communities are sick and plagued with the infestation of gang activites, drug trafficking, and spiritual shadiness, depravity and ultimately turpitude. Jeremiah wondered in his day, if there was a physician available to administer healing to his people. He looked for a healing medicine, called balm, that could bring or cause repair to his people. The balm mentioned in the scripture was an aromatic resin that was used as incense and ointment, thankfully there is such "balm" available in the Great Physicial, Jesus Christ. His balm will purify any putrefying community. Jesus stated in Matt 9:12-13 "...They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." When the community confess their sins the balm can be applied and healing can readily take place. Consider the following verses:

"We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee."- Jer 14:20

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."- 1 John 1:9

Several times in the Scriptures, whole communities and/or nations had to be punished for the sins of one individual. This can be seen in the case of King David numbering the people. Therefore healing has to take place first and foremost with the individual and it will eventually spread throughout the community and furthermore throughout the nation. But how does this take place? As we've seen with the other examples, the acknowledgement of sin has to take place, followed by submission to God's will. Consider the words of David in Psalm 51 after he was found guilty of the sin of adultery and murder:

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multidue of thu tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

This should be the attitude of every sinner; humilty before God. It is my prayer that God would Heal the Land on every level. We need a healing in every person of every community in every nation that's not living in the manner that's pleasing to God. Sin is the cause of so much chaos and confusion, and when the people acknowledge their sin and turn to God for guidance and forgiveness we'll see a change in how people live and in what laws are passed. Pray with me that God would Heal the Land, in Jesus name...