2 Cronicles 7:14
14 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.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever:
and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
In this well known scripture God speaks to Solomon, the king of Israel and sets out a beautiful plan of forgiveness, a plan which shows the Holy characteristics of God. Each one of these characteristics shows us His personality, His perfect love for us.
His Calling of His people – We know Israel is His chosen people, and through the Cross, we as gentiles have been grafted in the Olive tree to be partakers together with Jesus, and are able to obtain salvation if we “call upon the name of the Lord”. Incredible knowing that we were chosen, picked, known!
His Plan for us to enter His rest – God calls us to enter His rest like the Israelites would have been if they did not have an evil heart of unbelief! He intended us to enter His rest – A rest resultant from a work that we could not and did not do! A work so great it made a way for us to be reconciled with the Almighty Living, Fearful and Wonderful Father God of Heaven, He who made heaven and earth – He who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believeth, would not perish, but receive everlasting life. The ultimate rest.
He Desires us to humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our ways – Everyone knows the devastation and complications our wicked ways bring in our lives. How many consequences of your actions are you facing in your life, how many bad decisions’ results ended up making your life a complicated maze, to be navigated carefully and with wisdom you don’t always have.
He Forgives – One lie we were told since we were children is that we are worthy of His love. The fact is the bible sums it up in a few verses as just the opposite – “all our righteousness’s were as filthy rags” ; “All have gone astray…” and so on. We were not deserving, not in line for His forgiveness – Still God in His just Wisdom and Love chose to make a way for us, a way that would cost a Holy Life! A Holy Life, voluntarily sacrificed – a trade for our sins.
He Heals – This is the one that touched my heart – After all that (No 1-4) He still heals us. This is an incredible personal, an highly intimate action – A healing that changes who you are, changes how you act and live. It affects your relationships, your work, your being. When the Life, that is the Light of men (John 1:5) enters your life, you display faith with works – there is an effect that you cannot explain – the peace of God that passes understanding, and the love for people that Jesus has – those rivers of living water…
All that is left for you and I to do is to allow the Light to Illuminate us – to allow the light to deliver the truth, the truth that sets us free. Allow God to give you a revelation of His love today!
Danie Botha