Turning This Thing Around

By: Reverend J. Loren Russell

2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NKJV

“Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

A local news station reached out to me this week to get my opinion on a video that had been made public. The video showed a group of young men firing shots at another group. He asked what I felt while watching the video? I was heartbroken. Not only are we seeing a proliferation of violence worldwide, an unbelievable increase of mass shootings throughout the nation, but we are also witnessing an unprecedented increase in gun violence in the inner cities where I live. I can’t help but ask, where are we headed?

It is my sincere belief that we are not facing a social, but a spiritual issue. Whenever a relationship with God (in whatever belief you choose) is absent, chaos takes up residence. The dark shadows of evil and immorality will overwhelm any heart that is vacant of the love of God.

Most scholars credit Ezra with the writing of first and second Chronicles. Here he tells the story of Solomon having a second encounter with the Lord, which came after he prayed and completed the building of the temple. The Lord assures Solomon that He has heard his prayers and has chosen this place for Himself as a house where sacrifices will be made to Him.
The purpose of God having chosen this place is to confirm to Solomon that while they are going through God sending no rain to nourish the soil, allowing insects to devour the land, and an epidemic to afflict the community, He should still encourage His people to remain steadfast in their worship and praise. He would perform a mighty work among them.

We are living through great trials and tribulations…, gun violence, random shootings, systemic racism, and a global pandemic, yet the Lord still says, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways.” Even when it seems hopeless, if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, we can rest assured He will turn this thing around; “then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Be Blessed!

Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email