Changing a Nation with a Change in Heart

Changing a Nation with a Change in Heart - By Bill Wilson, Daily Jot News Service Senior Analyst – www.dailyjot.com

WASH—May 7—DJNS-- The Old Testament book of Joel expresses the condition of Judah—a backslidden state whose people, especially its leaders, have turned their backs on God. Therefore, there has come a judgment over the land and the judgment is harsh. The people were hungry because the country’s natural resources were eaten away by insects. Their houses stood in ruin. The economy was in a shambles. And the people had virtually no hope of redemption from the problems because they were too great, even so much that they blackened out the sun and the moon. The power of the people to change their nation rested only upon their willingness to repent and turn their hearts back to the Lord.

The prophet Joel says in 2:12-13, “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn you even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent him of the evil.” Joel says to “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. . .Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not your heritage to reproach that heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?”

The condition of people of Judah in Joel’s time seems to be similar to those in the United States. The vast majority consider themselves Christians, yet they have turned their backs on the Lord by adopting the ways of the world. They have placed immoral and unjust leadership over them. Their economy is being destroyed by bad leadership and greedy hands. Their homes are being taken away because they can’t afford them. Those who commit abomination against the Lord have been elevated above the people and the ungodly actions of these people are paid for by hard earned Christian money. And the government has become such that the heathen shall rule over America’s heritage.

True repentance is a hard thing to do given the prideful nature of the human heart. But the reward, according to the prophet Joel is great. Repentance, Joel says in verse 18 causes the Lord to move in your favor, “Then will the Lord be jealous for His land, and pity His people.” Verse 21 says, “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.” Repentance in the hearts of our countrymen would cause righteousness to prevail over the heathen, because with repentance comes a new found freedom and a renewal of the power of God with us. If we believe the Bible is the inerrant and infallible word of God, then we must follow all of it with all your heart, only then can we change the nation.