The Question

Several years ago, someone asked the question, “Where is God, that He would allow our nation to fall into the state that it is now?
A very wise woman answered, “We asked God to leave our schools, we asked God to leave our government, we asked Him to leave our churches so that He wouldn’t interrupt our programs, we asked Him to leave our conscience so that we could live our lives free from the boundaries of morality and ethics, and now that we’ve reaped the harvest of our desire and our world is crumbling around us, we ask, “Where is God?
“He, being the gentleman that He is, simply honored our request and left us.
What is the answer? What do we do? At the risk of sounding simplistic, I think the answer is obvious.
We invite Him to come back. We tell Him we were wrong, we are sorry, we made a mistake and we would like Him to forgive us and come back.
“But wait, you object, “I didn’t reject God, it was (___fill in the blank___)! They are the problem.
“Great! I reply, “since you are without reproach, you are the one to go into God’s presence on behalf of the rest of us and ask for forgiveness and grace.
None of us are guiltless before Him. But the good news of the gospel is this, that since none are guiltless, all are qualified to receive His great grace and forgiveness.
Revival begins with you. It begins with repentance. Repentance from apathy, compromise, empty religion, repentance for the unbelief of thinking there is no hope of change, repentance from sins of the body and heart, repentance from selfishness.
None of us are exempt, either from grace or judgement.
Since we then, are all on common ground, it is time to lay down our prejudice, our pride and our politics and pray.
Revival is always, without exception, birthed in prayer, the prayer of repentance. Prayer asking the Holy Spirit to send a spirit of conviction upon us that corporately we will no longer be blind to our own sin. Prayers of petition asking God to intervene in government and society, and above all, prayers asking God to visit us with His presence in every area of our life.
The day has come. Your community needs you. God is waiting for you to come to Him. Go ahead. Ask Him for a visitation and see whether He will hear you.
The challenge is before you, Christian. Will you take it?