Word for Word
by Rev. Duane Smith
We are a society that likes to take up a cause. It doesn’t seem to take much for us to get up in arms about the latest headline, no matter if we have all the facts or not. The latest one happens to be saving the lions in Africa. People seem to be passionate on both sides of this issue. I find the latest uproar troubling because it shows a tremendous flaw in our national morality.
While I am certainly in favor of caring for animals and taking care of the planet God has entrusted to us, I can’t help but wonder where is the outrage over things that are much more serious in the eyes of God? There are Iraqi Christians who fled from ISIS, managed to make their way across the world, and have ultimately made it to our border seeking asylum. These people have been detained in San Diego by our border patrol for over six months and are possibly going to be deported back to Iraq! Where is the outrage over this injustice?
What about the latest videos showing Planned Parenthood selling baby body parts for profit? This is an abomination before Almighty God and the loudest protests we hear are about the possible illegal killing of one lion.
There are so many terrible things happening in our world that those of us who do care feel like we are powerless to do anything about it. It seems like we are a lone voice in the wilderness. But that is not the case! We can make a difference!
We like causes in this country, so why not take up the cause of Christ? Let’s lovingly call others to repentance and to seek the God who can truly forgive them of their sins and cleanse their hearts. Let’s stand for the unborn who cannot speak for themselves. Let’s stand for justice and righteousness that is based firmly on the clear standards found in God’s Word, the Bible. Let’s show Christ’s love to a dying world not with signs and chants but by personal sacrifice.
Second Chronicles 7:14 says: if “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.”
This passage was written to and for the nation of Israel. It was not written to the people of the United States or any other country, so we need to be careful when we use it. But there is an application here that is always true. It is simply this: when men repent, God forgives and brings healing. If we want healing for our nation we, as individuals and as a nation, need to repent.
Are you ready to take up the cause? It starts with us.
