Well, let’s take a look way back into history and see where these types of problems got their beginning. A very long time ago, in the garden of Eden, God gave Adam a command, “16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16,17) But what did Adam do? Did he obey? No. He ate the fruit. True, Eve at it first; but Adam ate it as well.
Later, God came to the garden in the cool of the day to talk with Adam and Eve. God addressed the sin that had been committed and He started with Adam. Did Adam admit His sin? What did Adam say? Adam said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she…” (See Genesis 3:12) First Adam tried to put the blame on God. It was the woman that God had given to be with him. Next, Adam tried to put the blame on the woman, “The woman… she….”
After addressing Adam about this sin, God turned to address Eve. Did Eve admit her sin? What did Eve say? She said, “The serpent beguiled me, and…” (See Genesis 3:13) Eve couldn’t blame her husband, so she blamed the serpent. Both Adam and Eve tried to pass the blame for wrong and sin on to somebody else. Ever since that time in the garden, people have tried to pass the blame on to someone else for their sin and for the problems in the world. It is always someone else’s fault.
With the problems of racism (prejudice), hatred and other things going on today, many are trying to blame Obama. He certainly did promote much of this, but he was only able to do it because people were ready to listen and follow. Some blame Trump. Now he did have some people in his administration with questionable views. Also, some of the things he has said makes one wonder where he stands on the issue. However, the problem was there long before Trump came along. Others blame the educational system. This is certainly part of the problem as well. That is where most of the brainwashing is taking place. But, we keep sending our young people to these places of “education” and then acting like we are surprised when they come out with twisted ideology. Some blame the media. The media certainly is guilty of promoting and pushing the propaganda. But we keep listening to it. The media is only giving the people what the people want. It is so easy to blame everyone else for the sin problem.
Has it ever occurred to us to look at our own hearts? “17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (I Peter 4:17,18)
We need to ask ourselves, what have we done as Christians to help prevent this from occurring? This kind of thing doesn’t just suddenly happen one day. The brainwashing and evil and prejudice have been brewing for many years. How have we missed doing the right thing so that now hate and prejudice have been allowed to grow so big? What is our own heart like? Do we have any hatred or prejudice toward anyone? If we have done nothing else on purpose, we have all been guilty of being lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. (See II Timothy 3:4) We do what feels good, and we want what we think is going to make us happy. This love of pleasure leads to covetousness and to the desire to get our rights, and not only our rights but also all the things we think we deserve. It leads to prejudice because we either think we are better than someone else or that we should have all the things someone else has.
Maybe it is time that we as Christians get on our faces before God and humble ourselves and confess our sins and repent and seek God’s face and mercy. Who can tell if God will be merciful to us and turn our country to peace and healing? Don’t look at the other guy, or even at Satan. Healing and revival starts with me.
What we need is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, a humble heart before God. If we love God and are humbled and right before Him, He will take care of all the prejudice and covetousness that is hiding in our hearts. Right hearts will lead to right living and that will lead to peacefulness and justness in society. Psalm 51 describes the humility, confession, and repentance God is looking for.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” (Psalm 51:1-13)
I Will Go to Jesus Now
A song about humility and salvation. The same heart attitude is what is needed for revival. God is ready to abundantly pardon.
1. Come, humble sinner, in whose breast
A thousand thoughts revolve,
Come with your guilt and fear oppressed,
And make this last resolve:
Chorus:
I will go, I will go,
Yes, I will go to Jesus now,
To be saved, to be saved;
Before His cross I’ll humbly bow.
2. I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin
Like mountains round me close;
I know His courts, I’ll enter in,
Whatever may oppose.
3. Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne,
And there my guilt confess;
I’ll tell him, I’m a wretch undone
Without His sovereign grace.
4. I cannot perish if I go;
I’ll call “while He is nigh;”
For if I stay away I know
I must forever die.
~Edward Jones
Salvation
“6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6,7)
Or repentance
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)