By Dr. John Adams, Executive Director • Moral Action
What is America’s hope? We must claim God’s promise of healing. God said, in II Chron. 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.” We must meet several conditions before healing can come:
• We must humble ourselves. God’s people must humble themselves before a holy and righteous God. We must become broken in our souls and spirits in order for our Father to renew us.
• We must pray. We must renew our daily fellowship with the Father. Our Father desires to spend time with us, but do we desire to be in His presence? Prayer is essential.
• We must turn from our sin. How can we do this? Dr. Adrian Rogers said that we must “name it, nail it and forsake it.” We must identify and confess our faults to the Father. John said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
• We must not carry our guilt around. Every believer must “nail” his sins to Christ’s cross. They have been paid for by Christ’s blood, and they will not be held against us. Paul declared, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14). The songwriter wrote, “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin not in part, but the whole; Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.”
• We must “forsake” wickedness. When we forsake a wicked life, we literally run from it. Paul told Timothy, “Flee also youthful lusts…” (II Tim. 2:22). Are we willing to forsake the worldly lifestyle and embrace righteousness? Will we let Jesus lead us?
When these conditions are met, our Father will forgive us. He will wipe the slate clean and give us a fresh start. He will fellowship with us and bless His children again. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). Glory! Our American and Christian hope is Jesus, God’s only Son.
