The headline said,”Massive drought in U.S. Midwest sends global crop prices soaring”. The article then proceeds to paint a bleak picture. We, of course, already knew this. Unless you’re living under a rock without access to the media you know what’s happening. You also know that, although concerned, you can’t change or control the circumstances. It is what it is and we have to deal with it.
There is, however, a drought of a different sort that should trouble us even more. I’m talking about a spiritual drought, our need for revival. I won’t elaborate, but this drought could very well be the cause of the other. Since “the LORD hath his way in the whirl-wind and in the storm”(Nah. 1:3) it is no stretch of the imagination to connect our current situation to divine providence. God has His finger in everything. Nothing happens that He does not cause or allow. Yeah I know, you’ve got some questions–get in line. I’m just giving you the facts. God will have to answer your questions.
I’m not going into a lot of detail and bore you with statistics, but I do want to remind you that all the major Christian denominations are in a state of decline–Hello Europe,”Here we come”. Church leaders are frantic and the so called “experts” are banging their heads against the wall trying to come up with an explanation and solution to stop the bleeding. In their answers you hear just about everything. Some, as the kids say, leave you ROTFL. But this isn’t funny.
Now you can think as you please, but there can be no denying of the fact that interest in the Bible, church, and the Christian disciplines are waning. The average person simply has other things on their mind. I don’t think I am exaggerating one bit when I say, the need for revival has never been greater and interest in it has never been less. The fact that a shocking number of churches are closing everyday doesn’t seen to bother people at all. The decline in professions of faith, baptisms, church attendance, giving, and men surrendering to the ministry doesn’t seen to trouble anyone anymore. You just got to wonder,”What will it take”. I think I know, but I don’t like to think about it!
Well they say,”Its darkest before the dawn”, so maybe there is hope. It just might be that if it keeps getting worse it will finally get better. Do I need to remind you how painful that will be? I understand very well that God alone can send revival, but I also know that it is conditional. Until God’s people turn to Him with their whole heart there is no chance for it. One thing is sure–we can’t keep doing business as usual and expect thing to get better. It doesn’t work that way. This is how it works: “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 Chron.7:14.
I know, you’ve heard that verse a thousand times before, but what have you done about it? This verse reminds us that we are wicked, our land is sick, and God is able and willing to heal. Just like ancient Israel, we have a choice. We can seek God and live or seek only to please self and die. It is our choice. I’m going to pray–right now! What are you going to do? Think about it!
