“If my people who are called by my name 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.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
A lot’s changed in 3000 years since God made this promise to the earthly nation of Israel. God made this promise to King Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. That temple is long gone. That nation is long gone and modern-day Israel isn’t the same.
Today, God’s people include anyone of any land who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For God’s people, our primary citizenship is in heaven rather than any earthly country. Our true, undying land is in heaven and the renewed earth. God didn’t make this promise to any geographic nation that exists today. The ultimate healing of EVERY land will occur when Jesus returns to defeat Satan and usher in the new heaven and new earth. Moreover, every Christian is now a mobile temple of God as the Holy Spirit lives within each of us!
What hasn’t changed is the character of God. He remains unchangingly, unfailingly good, faithful, loving, gracious, kind, merciful, just, holy, and so much more. Therefore, if His people who are called by His name (everyone who follows Jesus) humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, we know with complete certainty that He’ll hear from heaven and forgive our sins (1 John 1:9).
Moreover, if your heart is broken by the evil, sinfulness, violence, division, injustice, hatred, rebelliousness, materialism, immorality, or ungodliness of your earthly homeland, it’s entirely appropriate for you to pray for and anticipate God’s healing your land by bringing many in it to faith in Jesus Christ. Through the turning of many stony hearts to Christ, earthly nations have been and will be transformed. While this isn’t the ultimate healing to come at Christ’s return, it’s a healing and transformation God certainly desires for every nation on earth, including ours. Let us pray…