"I Will Hear From Heaven"

“ if my people who are called by my name 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.” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

Solomon had just dedicated the temple to God, with fire coming down from heaven to consume the burnt offerings. Solomon dedicated the temple and honored God by sacrificing 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep.

In the night, God appeared to Solomon. (v.12) Today's verse is part of the words God spoke to Solomon. It serves as a reminder of God's unchanging nature. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) For Israel, God forgave them frequently as they often rebelled. The sacrificial system only covered the sin of the people. God knew that these covered sins would be forgiven in Christ’s sacrifice.

God’s words ring true today. In our sin, we pray for forgiveness, turning from our sin in repentance, and He forgives. No prayer to God goes unheard, and no prayer is said in vain. God heals our relationship with Him. Praying to God for strength in our temptation is so powerful. A prayer like “Help me remove those things that separate us,” tells God our sin pains us, and we treasure Him above the temptation to which we had succumbed.  

God deserves to be treasured. As John Piper says, “Treasured truly, and worshipped duly.” This is true worship. Placing Christ at the center of our lives, where He should be, helps us as we struggle with sin. Essentially, when we sin, we are telling God, “ I know this is wrong, but right now this is more important to me than you are at this moment.” Luke wrote, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” God knows all things; He is omnipotent. God knows our sins.

“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:10-14.) We should fall prostrate right now as we remember and are so grateful that our God is a forgiving God. He is a God of love. What I am grateful for is that our God is a patient God. God does have the power to change the heart, and we are beings capable of being molded by His hand.

When you come to faith in Christ, you will undergo a transformation. Christ will continue to change and mold you until you are in His image. I believe when He has accomplished that and our commission here is finished, He calls home.

Do you know where your home is when your time here on earth is through? You know you are a sinner, but God is capable of forgiving all sins if you ask Him to, if you believe He can, if you believe in Him. The Son of God waits, you will see Him in one of two ways, in a rejoiceful welcoming, or in condemnation. Which will it be for you?

Accept Christ as your Savior today; the final call from Him could be right now.

Grace and peace.