A Resolution Worth Keeping

O call back yesterday, bid time return As William Shakespeare noted in Richard II, we often wish that we could return to the past so we could change our actions and make better use of lost time. We seldom prepare for the future, although if we did, perhaps it would prevent us from wishing for a return to the past. As we approach the dawn of a new century, we will talk about a tradition that few of us take seriously: the tradition of the new year's resolution. After the sumptuous feasts of the holiday season, many people will resolve to lose a few pounds. Those who have been delinquent in the payment of some bills may resolve to budget more stringently. The dreamer may resolve to strive a little harder for his dream. Whatever the resolution, few of us will actually succeed in attaining our goal, and by springtime of the new year many of us will not remember our resolutions.

The New Year's resolution is a fun tradition with well-intentioned roots, but it doesn't seem to improve our state of being or the course of our country. Could there be any advice from the Bible that would help us to develop a proper resolution? I believe that the Bible holds the answer to any question we might have.

As we approach the year 2000, I am reminded of the promise God made to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Although this promise was made to the people of Israel, our God's immutable nature leads me to believe that this promise will apply to us as well. Let's look at this verse carefully to see how we can resolve to bring our country back to God.

If my people who are called by my name... When we talk about bringing our nation back to God we tend to disparage the politicians, the national education system, and others who oppose our values. These are not the people to whom God is appealing in this verse. God is appealing to "My people who are called by my name." That sounds like a description of Christians.

Will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways... The definition of humble, when used as a verb, is "(1) to curtail or destroy the pride of (2) to cause to be meek or modest in spirit." We need to release our pride and live meekly. We (Christians) must forsake our sins, turn from a life that is centered in self, and yield to God's will. This is not easy, but it is required.

Then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. This is God's part of the bargain. If Christians will do the things mentioned in the first part of the verse, God will hear our prayers, forgive our sins, and heal our land. Our duty in this covenant seems difficult, but what a wonderful reward! And Jesus told us in Matthew 11:30 "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." If we sincerely desire to turn from our sins and to seek God's will, He will increase our desire to do His will, and our part will no longer be a burden—it will be a pleasure.

God also gives a warning in 2 Chronicles. He says in vv. 19–22 that if His people turn away from Him, they will be punished. Verses 21–22 say "Why has the Lord done this to this land and this house? Then they well answer, 'because they forsook the Lord god of their fathers . . . therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.'" There are always consequences for every action we take. Good actions result in good consequences, and sin results in bad consequences. This is the way established by our God. We must accept this fact and use it to help guide our actions.

Should a people of faith and principle resolve to turn our country away from the holocaust of abortion? Of course we should. But we need to petition God for His help in this great struggle. He has shown us that the way to achieve our goals in this country is for Christians to repent and to begin to follow Him. Let's make this our resolution every year so America will see the hand of God working in our land again. Only then will we look forward to the future instead of longing for the past.

Occoquan Bible Church