Celebrate True Freedom
Ronald Reagan once said, “We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something—for liberty and freedom and fairness. And these things are worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to.” I couldn’t agree more that it is a great privilege to stand for liberty, freedom, and fairness!
I am proud to say that I am a flag-waving, National Anthem singing, red-blooded, lover of America! While I deeply love America, I must be honest that I have great concerns about our country. It seems as if trouble is coming in every direction from the top down: news outlets, social media, individual states, communities, and right down to the home.
We live in a country where marriage, for a variety of reasons, is no longer sacred, and hatred is rampant over the topics of abortion and sexuality. We live in a country suffering from widespread racism while dealing with politicians on both sides that have created division and run up an enormous national debt for our children and grandchildren. Millions of people across the country struggle to provide for their families and go to bed hungry every night. Indeed, trouble can be found in all directions.
I love America, but America is in desperate need of revival. In 2 Chronicles 7, Israel suffered many troubles with drought, destroyed crops, and diseases plaguing the nation. It was a very serious time, but God’s answer to their problems—and ours—is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
People say we need to persuade God to send revival, but we can’t persuade God to send revival until we permit God to send revival. The scripture is very clear that the problem lies not with God but with His people. Notice that the verse says “If my people,” not if Hollywood celebrities, if the democrats, if the republicans, if the wealthy… it simply says “If MY people” meaning the church.
You may be thinking, “What’s wrong with the church that keeps God from sending revival?” Well, the scripture is very clear about two problems. If the church—God’s people—will “humble themselves.” The first problem is the pride many Christians have that God so hates. Many people become so comfortable living the life they think they deserve and neglect to acknowledge that everything good in life comes from God alone. When will God bless America? When His people acknowledge that the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the houses we live in, and the jobs we have all come from God.
The second problem that keeps God from sending revival is the issue of prayer. Instead of falling to their knees in prayer, many Christians lift their phones to complain, gossip, accuse, and share judgmental opinions. We often talk about our problems to everyone but God. Not seeking God’s wisdom and guidance through prayer and Bible study keeps God from moving in a mighty way to bring healing to this country.
God’s promise is clear: “I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” He will honor that promise, but we must permit Him to do so by positioning ourselves in humility and prayer. We must seek Him above all else and rely on His wisdom above our own. We must know Jesus as Savior because being patriotic, serving in the military, or having a godly grandmother won’t get anyone to Heaven. We all must know Jesus personally.
Only when Christians position themselves with God above all else will revival come in this country like never before. This July, let’s commit our lives to Christ and make sure that our patriotic celebration doesn’t come before our celebration of eternal freedom found only in Jesus Christ!