Read: 1 Kings 18:17-40 (Read one last time!)
Our country has been following a downward spiral of sin and rebellion that has moved us further and further from God. Moreover, as previously stated, I believe our country is experiencing God’s judgment. I do not believe we are under His blessing at the present time. Is there any hope? YES! And it begins with God’s children, those who truly follow Jesus.
We as Christians need to understand that the world system, which is under the control of Satan (1 John 5:19) is constantly pulling us away from God. This is why John writes in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
This is what has happened to our nation. We have fallen in love with the world system that is opposed to God. This is why we need to consider a man like Elijah who chose to go against the pull of the world and follow God. Don’t you want to be like Elijah? Look at 1 Kings 18:34-39.
“Elijah built an altar to the Lord. He had it doused with water three times until it was saturated. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. And then he prayed. ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at you command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the scroll, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!’ And then Elijah had all of the prophets of Baal slaughtered.”
I want to close this devotional series with a challenge. It comes from a former missionary in China, Amy Carmichael (1867-1951). She once said, “Every day we live we have to choose whether we should follow in the way of Ahab or the way of Elijah!” Are you going to follow the ways of the world, or the ways of God? That is the challenge I lay before you now.
What our nation needs now more than ever before, and what the world needs now more than ever before, are men and women who will pursue God with their whole hearts—men and women, boys and girls who will be unwavering in their pursuit of holiness and righteousness. If we want a revival to come to America, it must begin with true believers. Believers must repent and turn back to God. The solution to America’s problems and to the problems of the world begins in the heart. Remember, the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.
2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.” This verse provides the solution to America’s problem.
Do you want to see God heal our land? Do you want to see people turn their hearts back to God? When we as God’s children humble ourselves, pray, and seek God with our whole hearts, and truly repent, then (and only then) will we see the fire of God come down from heaven. Choose this day whom you will serve! That is our choice. Let’s pray.
