Now that Christmas has passed, we won't hear much about organizations trying to remove the Name of Christ from Christmas ? that is, until next year. What changed since 9-11-01 when 'God Bless America' signs were everywhere ? cars, lawns, and shop windows? Remember when even news anchors were advocating prayer for the nation? The idea that an unseen enemy is fighting a war on U.S. soil struck fear into the hearts of Americans. Sometimes lack of control is powerful enough to drive people to their knees. And America wasn't ashamed of God or to use His Name. But within a few years of these horrible attacks, we have forgotten Him once again.
God uses tragedy and trials to get our attention, not for His sake, but for ours! C.S. Lewis wrote, "pain is God's megaphone to a deaf world." In that way some tragedies serve as wake up calls for spiritually sleeping people. A stubborn, secular, and even blasphemous society sometimes will be stopped short only when a tragedy of national proportions takes place.
God was watching that day, but that doesn't mean He was passive. Many times He has watched and waited. Prior to the flood, humanity grew wicked and more violent ? but in the end He acted. He watched Sodom and Gomorrah became more vile and perverted. He watched as Israel turned away from Him to worship a golden calf ? but in the end He took action. He sees all and "will never let the guilty go unpunished." (Nahum 1:3) We can learn a lot from those who were disobedient to God. Even the chosen people of Israel suffered for their obedience until they humbled themselves before God. We must remember that He is faithful to accomplish His Word, even when it may appear to us that He is slow in dealing with sin.
"The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised, as some think. Instead, He is patient with you, because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins." 2 Peter 3:9
The key is not the repentance of the unsaved, but the Lord is waiting for His people to humble themselves and make the change that ushers in His promise!
"?and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
As the year ends, let?s spend the remaining hours of it in prayer, humbling ourselves and asking the Lord to forgive us. We can make many resolutions for 2005; however, the most important commitment is one that is asked by the Lord ? to seek His Face and turn from our wicked ways!
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