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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
Regardless of national and world conditions at any particular time, there is one eternal truth that never changes. God in the Person of Jesus Christ is in control of the earth - yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever.
However, down through recorded history, He has allowed nations to progress closer to God's ways or to slowly distance themselves. No nation or people live in a vacuum. Some seem to feel that the world is their place to play with and conduct themselves as they please. And so it seems to be unless one considers and believes Biblical history.
The Bible has had much to say down through the ages concerning nations and their conduct, although most feel that they control their existence and destiny. The prophetic books of the Bible picture a far different reality. History of a major part of the world is contained in the writings of prophets that God used to warn and predict future events in many different nations that revolved around His chosen peoples of that time. This is especially true after God punished the original people of Israel that came out of captivity, and settled then into a new land.
Eventually, they sinned and forgot their heritage and their God, and were divided by captivity into two nations, Israel and Judah. God is intimately involved in the affairs of all nations, although it may not seem so. This because God does not function in the world as mankind expects. Many times, God simply waits for the next round of what He knows is coming. He may then react slowly, or almost instantly to intervene in the affairs of nations.
How could the checkered history of Israel have any relevancy to nations of today? We must keep in mind that God never changes, is never partial, is perfect in all His activities and interactions with the nations and peoples of the world. God was not partial to Israel. They were to form an example of what the world in general could be then and will be in the future. Israel's sins and mistakes are examples of warning and also future hope for the world.
In His interactions with nations, God is never partial. It only seems that way because God is not governed by time, and knows what we cannot know. He is in control. There is a warning God gave (and is giving) the nations of the world that is very specific. In His word that is directed specifically to ancient Israel, there is warning and hope for any nation of our world today. God is the same, "yesterday, today and tomorrow". And God is no respecter of persons or nations.
America and other nations are experiencing turmoil and uncertainty concerning the future. There is an aura of uneasiness, especially in America and other nations also. Events seem to accelerate faster, and move into the next level of uncertainty and uneasiness with each passing day. Some say, "Oh it's always been this way". Yes...and no. Its a matter of degree and acceleration, which means bad events will move more quickly and go from bad to worse, at an increasing rate.
The time will come when this world must respond to almighty God, not only the people of ancient Israel, but He will become a choice for all mankind. The options God presented to Solomon will become a mandate to the world:
"And 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. If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place. For I have chosen and sanctified (set apart for holy use) this house, that My Name may be here forever, and My eyes and My heart will be here perpetually."
If America and the nations of the world will turn to God in this way, the bad news will be transformed into good news.
God is no respecter of nations. It all depends on the nation. In this, and in this alone, can there be national healing for America - and all the nations of the world.
It can begin with you and me...
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