2 CHRONICLES 7:14

IS NOT FOR US!

I recently received an email (for like the fifth time) urging me to

listen to Andrea Bocelli sing "The Lord's Prayer," and to read
text on the screen asking all Christians to turn to God in the
spirit of 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."

Now this disturbs me greatly; how do I count the ways? Maybe

most of all because I see that this time the forward originated
from a grace believer who has attended a Mid-Acts
Dispensational church for several years.

Let's see. Shall we begin with the fact that the scripture quoted
is from Israel's Law Program?
Israel was (and will be in future) under an "if, then" relationship
with God. "If you do that, then I will do this." The whole human
race was under that system beginning with the test of
obedience in the Garden! Israel had a chance to change all
that when God conveyed to them by his providential care of
them in their escape from Egypt that he was willing to be a
"blank check" they could cash for their every need if they
would but trust him. Of course, they didn't want to trust him
and displayed a "Look, ma, I can do it myself!" attitude all
through their history; so God gave them what they asked for
by issuing the ten big ones and the 613 small ones and treated
them according to their performance level. Israel's refusal to
trust and rest in their God was the very sin he promised to
forgive in the 2nd Chronicles verse!

When God cast Israel's program aside for a time after their
rejection of his Son, Jesus Christ, their promised Messiah, he
began a new relationship with the human race through a
series of messages through the Apostle Paul. He proclaimed
through Paul (2 Cor. 5:19) that the sacrificial death of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself and has given everyone a
permanently clean slate as far as sin is concerned with only
one question left to answer: Do you believe my Son did this for
you? Those who let him know they do are instantly sealed into
Christ and given not only the Holy Spirit but "all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. 1:3) If we have
all the blessings we're ever going to receive, then the blessing
of "healing" our land isn't one of them or we'd already have it!
One of the "all spiritual blessings" that we do have upfront is
forgiveness of sins! (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). So, to pray to God,
humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways in order to
obtain his forgiveness istotally unnecessary today and anyone
who has actually read Paul's letters should already know this!
The language is certainly not hard to understand.

Now, don't get me wrong; it's always okay to pray and ask God
for anything we want. He wants to hear from us. Paul
writes, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God." (Php. 4:6). But God's message to us
through Paul contains no certain promises that our requests
will be granted. We need to keep in mind that we are here to
"suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Rom.
8:17).

In addition to its use of a promise made to another people in

another dispensation, the forward also has "The Lord's Prayer"
being sung as if it's something we should use today. These
words of Christ to his little flock, who were to have shortly
gone through the time of "great tribulation," do not reflect the
grace relationship we have with God today, but are a reminder
to them of the "if you do this; I'll do that" relationship Israel had
with God until they complete all the courses of punishment
and testing laid out in Leviticus 26 (which will conclude in the
kingdom). For believers today to pray this prayer is an
admission by them that they have an inadequate
understanding and appreciation of the grace we have in
Christ. (Please see: "Why I Would NEVER Pray the Lord's
Prayer!").

Please don't think I don't understand the heartfelt sentiment

behind this attractively packaged presentation; I do. But, come
on, Christians everywhere, let's not encourage other
Christians to waste time asking God to do something he's
made it clear he's not doing today in this dispensation of the
grace of God; and let's instead do things that make known to
the world the reconciliation they've been granted by God's
grace through his Son's accomplishments at Calvary, and how
easy it is for them to partake of the blessings of the
inheritance God is offering in Christ to those who will simply
believe what has been done by him on our behalf, and be
reconciled to God. This kind of grace won't be offered forever;
and after we're gathered to our federal head, Jesus Christ,
perilous times will come on the earth for those who were not
found in him.

P. S. Those blonde-haired "Jesus" images are, in my opinion,

more likely a representation of how Satan appears as an
"angel of light," than the Lord Jesus Christ! Do not be
deceived: We shall see his face in glory and not before.

See also: "What on Earth is God Doing?"

"How Then Should We Pray?"
"Do We Need Forgiveness on the Installment Plan?"