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.
God Owns Your Life But You Own Your Choices
I suppose no Old Testament text is more frequently cited when it comes to the need for revival in our nation than is II Chronicles 7:14. After Solomon had offered up the newly constructed temple to God, God appeared to him by night and said, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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.”
People have made much of the fact that this is in a very Jewish context, and indeed it is. This was God dealing with His people Israel through whom the Messiah would come. It is also interesting to note that it is very geographically oriented. In chapters 6 and 7 much is made about praying toward the temple. Now, we realize that God is right here, right now. God hears us because He is here, but there is also a sense in which God hears us from heaven. Indeed, Daniel also prayed this way when he was in captivity. He prayed toward this temple, and God heard from heaven.
So, it is very geographically oriented toward the place of the temple. But this truth is applicable to us now. We are not Israel, but do we think that God’s nature or attitude toward sin has changed? Of course, we don’t. Then why would we think that God’s attitude toward a humble, repentant people would change depending on what nationality they claim?
There is a principle here in I Chronicles 7: God owns your life, but you own your choices. Would you rather have freedom or safety? A lot of people would rather be certain, safe, and fed than free and uncertain. In II Chronicles 7, you see both freedom and safety. You see both potential and certainty. There is an if-then pattern.
This is often a pattern you see when God is talking to His people. He will say something like “if my people will turn toward Me, I will turn toward them. If they turn away from Me, then I will chasten them.” “If” is potential; it implies freedom. “If” means that I have a choice to make. God is sovereign and in control, but I am responsible for my decisions.
“Then” is the certainty; it is the safety. God is One Who is always consistent with Himself and His character. So, “if my people…shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn,” then will God hear.
The sum and substance of this is that God owns your life. He is in control and sovereign. But you own your choices. What that means is that there is freedom, responsibility, and potential in the “if,” and there is certainty and safety in the “then.” I can know that God will consistently display His character, and will respond to a repentant, humble heart as ever He has.