A Nation That Repents
Reading Time: 5 Minutes
MODERN DAY THOUGHTS ABOUT ISAIAH CHAPTER 1 AND A NATION THAT REPENTS
When a “Christian nation” falls into sin so that even its laws are evil, it has made itself vulnerable to attack from the devil. But God has promised that a nation that repents and follows the Lord can come under His favor again!
A Blessed Nation
As Christians, each one of us have a very important role in our nation. But it begins in our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. When God’s children live by the Spirit, seeking to bear His fruit alone, our nation will be changed. In Isaiah chapter 1 God spoke as a loving Father to the nation of Israel. This applies to any nation who has served the Lord.
Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:2-3 NIV
God goes on to describe the lifestyle of sin and lack of common sense that nation had produced. He said the nation would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah except for a few faithful ones. God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. He goes on to speak about those who do all the religious things but don’t seek the heart of God.
When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:15-17 NLT
Religion
Christians can become “religious” by going to church, tithing, praying, reading the Bible etc, but not seeking the Holy Spirit. Seeking God means wholeheartedly obeying Him no matter the cost. It is believing the Word of God even when everyone in your life seems to be going in a different direction.
Many who call themselves Christians and do all the Christian things have fallen asleep spiritually. They receive more joy from the things in the world than from the presence of God. There is no love for the lost, the poor or the broken. Therefore, there is no motivation that drives them to ask God what their part is in the Kingdom. They are jealous of other Christians, casting blame, shame and disrespecting others.
Trials & Tribulations
You will be sorry that you ever worshiped trees and planted sacred gardens. You will wither like a dying oak, like a garden that no one waters. Just as straw is set on fire by a spark, so powerful people will be destroyed by their own evil deeds, and no one will be able to stop the destruction. Isaiah 1:29-31 GNT
Nobody wants trials and tribulations but they often serve to wake us up before it’s too late.
Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! I will raise my fist against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities. Then I will give you good judges again and wise counselors like you used to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City.” Isaiah 1:24-26
A Nation That Repents Through Trials
Trials that come to a nation such as pandemics and terrorist attacks are wake-up calls. They should not throw a Christian into fear but into intimate prayer and submission to God’s will. In those times of sincere repentance we often receive the greatest revelations of God’s extravagant love.
I believe it is possible for a nation to repent with only a remnant of Christians full of the Holy Spirit. The entire huge city of Ninevah repented of their evil sin and turned to God when a grouchy missionary preached the Word of God to them! Imagine what would happen if God’s people repented and sought God with their whole hearts!
Reason Together With God
When anyone chooses their own human reasoning over God’s Word, they are choosing to worship themselves rather than God. Our nation is falling apart because of human reasoning. Christians are now scrambling to put the nation back together. God will bring our nation back to health if we will humble ourselves to do what He says.
Confess and Repent to God
God wants to put our nation back together but we must confess our national sins to God, especially the laws permitting abortion. The sins of our nation are red with the blood of precious innocent babies. We must stand up against the many ungodly laws and immoral attacks upon our nation while we still have the freedom to do so.
Our nation can turn to God if God’s people will turn back to Him! But we’re running out of time. It’s time for each of us to accept the generous invitation of Jesus. Sit down and reason with Him. Here is the offer: We bring our sin to Him and He washes us clean by the sacrifice He made when He died on the cross. And because He rose again on the third day, Jesus makes us spiritually one with Him and sends the Holy Spirit to empower us to do His will on earth. If God’s children are willing to reason with God every day and obey His Spirit, our nation will be saved!
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 1:18-20 AMP
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Stuck in the Mud
