We live in a troubled world today. A world full of problems, with seemingly no answers to the problems. It is a world where we are bombarded at every turn with violence, hatred, and self-centered people that are bent on doing whatever they want, and whenever they want. It is a world where most feel particularly good about choosing and living as they please until another party feels it conflicts with theirs. How did we get to this point? We have stopped following the pattern God laid out for His creation. Most are doing what seems right in their own eyes. This is the same pattern that the Israelites followed which led them far away from God.
Judges 17:6 “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
We have allowed our children to disrespect authority, and to believe what they want is more important than anything else. We have become near sited, and comfort focused, believing what seems “trivial” to us doesn’t matter. When our children disobey, we let it go thinking they will understand and obey when they are older. We make excuses for their disobedience and fail to enforce consequences that will change their behavior. We have failed to love them the way God loves them and as a result, we are seeing a world where chaos rules. We look for doctors to fix our problems, laws that will change behavior, drugs to numb the feeling of guilt, and hope that time will change people. As Christians, we know the answer to the world’s problems, yet we still allow Satan to infiltrate our lives and make us think there is another way.
In Romans chapter 13, there are 7 verses that deal with how we are to respond to authority. Verse 1 teaches us that we are to be subject to the laws of the land and respect those who are in authority to enforce them. Our society today as a whole obeys when it is what they want, not what the law demands. Instead of going about the legal way to seek changes, we riot or complain and disobey. There is no respect for those whom God has allowed in power. Yes, God allowed them, in verse 2 when we resist the powers that be, we are resisting God. There is only one exception to this. In Acts 5:29, Peter and the apostles give that exception. We ought to obey God when man’s laws violate God’s laws. An example of such a law would be abortion. The law of the land says it is legal, but God says it’s murder. We need to stand up and rally against this law, but do it in a peaceful way. We need to be an example of what a Christian should be to influence the world for change. If we riot and act like the world to seek change, we will be seen as no different than those of the world. Our impact will be ruined.
Romans 13:1-2 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisted the power, resisted the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
Act 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
God gives up the prescription for the world’s problems. We are to live close to Him so that we have the ear of God and know the heart of God. In II Chronicles 7:14, God wrote the way for change for His people. If we will humble ourselves. This is a tall order for most. Because we are proud people and think we have the answers. We as Christians, know God is the answer, but we want to help Him out and do it our way. In our minds, we have convinced ourselves that the gospel isn’t enough, and we must modernize it our way. That is pride and God hates pride. He wants us to humble ourselves and let Him deal with the hearts of men.
We are to pray and seek His face. Sounds simple? It is if you love Him and are sincere, but if you’re putting prayer time on a schedule you are limiting God to a slot instead of seeking His face until you hear from Him.
We are also instructed to “turn” from our wicked ways. Many come to God knowing there are things in their lives that are not pleasing to God, but they continue in those and expect God to answer their prayers. We must be a people of repentance if we want to be forgiven. Psalm 66:18 teaches us that if we have iniquity in our hearts God will not hear our prayer.
If we want the world to change, we must do it God’s way. We must relinquish our control and give Him full control. We must win as many people to Him as we possibly can in our lifetime. When we pray, humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, we will do the things that God wants us to do. Others will see the difference in our lives. We will be a witness and the only way to have complete change is to win others to Him one at a time. We don’t change the world through politics or rioting. We don’t change the world by giving philosophical speeches or education.
II Chronicles 7:14 “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.”
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
If everyone who names the name of Christ would seek to win the world for Christ, we would soon see people changing. When people love God their behavior changes. They are no longer consumed with themselves but with what pleases God. The answer to the world’s problems will always be God, but we must be the ones to exhibit this in our own lives. We must love them the way God loves them. We must follow God’s pattern for changing the world that He gave us in II Chronicles 7:14.
