If!

“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”.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14

The above passage is perhaps the most important passage in the Bible for God’s people today. We have turned from God as a people, and we are paying the price for our national sins.

But the directions found in our text, if followed, would bring an end to our distress as a people, restore us to freedom and liberty, and would cause God’s blessings to flow once again like a mighty river until all is blessing and healing and peace.

Restoration is not only possible, but is absolutely guaranteed . . . IF !

The word if is a conditional term, usually followed by a then. It is a word that is used to indicate that a particular thing can or will happen, but only after something else happens first. If this happens, then such and such will happen. But such and such will not happen — cannot happen — will never happen — unless this happens first. Whether or not such and such ever becomes a reality hinges solely upon whether or not this happens, and if this never happens, it is not reasonable to expect that such and such will happen.

So that which follows if is of utmost importance when considering the then. Because if that which follows if does not happen, then that which follows then will also not happen. Guaranteed.

“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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. The then in this case is that Almighty God will hear us, will forgive our national sins, and will heal our land.

Such blessings! This happy state is of inestimable value and is to be desired of us all, is it not? Truly, it would be desirable in any circumstance, but especially in the grievous predicament in which we find ourselves today!

But if we are ever to enjoy these blessings, we must do that which is required. We must act, and we must act now. We must humble ourselves, we must pray fervently according to His Will (not our own will), we must seek Him and His holy kingdom above all else, and we must turn from our wicked ways whereby we have turned from our God and His holy Law.

Restoration, freedom, liberty and blessings all await . . . IF!