Platforms

2Chronicles 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. 

My, my, my. If this scripture which seems to be one rolling off many people's tongues these days, isn't just what we need to do. With all the stuff going on election-wise between RNC and DNC it's mind boggling. Platforms. Sadly, neither party is far from perfect. But one party did, no doubt, made a great faux pas recently.

Haven't we heard a lot, maybe more than enough, about platforms lately? As I sat in various areas of church Sunday (prayer, Sunday school and sanctuary) the word platform came up time and again. The definition of a platform as Merriam Webster states is a plan or design; a declaration of the principles on which a group of persons stands; especially: a declaration of principles and policies adopted by a political party or a candidate.

So what was the faux pas? Well, unless you've been in outer space or without any form of power, you know what I mean...the removal and party-splitting reinstatement of God and Jerusalem this past week in one platform! As someone I know wrote: Actually, I think the references to God in the platform were reinstated. Uh, yes, but did you notice the reaction? Was it a 100% vote, I ask? There is no way something like what transpired can be just whisked under the rug like it did not happen...or that it has been truly rectified. The decision still leaves a cloud over it all. Damage has been done.

If my people who are called by my name... We had better do this. This is the better tack to take for this country. Asking God's forgiveness for, as I also recently heard stated, kicking God to the curb once again. How many times can this nation do this without some repercussions?

How many times did Israel do this? And how many times did they suffer the consequences? Will we as a people ever get it right? It's something we can only do one person at a time. It comes with receiving Christ as Lord of our life, acknowledging Him as Supreme Authority over all life. It's declaring the principles for which one Person stands. Godly principles. A godly platform. The solid platform.

Jesus cannot run for election, though He would have my vote. If He did run His principles would not be very popular. They would be extreme compared to how we live today. And then there's all the differing opinions as to just exactly what He meant when He said _____ (you fill in the blank). Even we would not get it all right.

We are all sinners with differences of opinion, even when it comes to understanding Jesus' words and God's commands. But that's why He gave of Himself for us. His death, His blood has cleansed those who call Him Lord and have given their lives to Him. He knows how imperfect we will always be, but through Him we are made righteous.

Judging by the reaction opposed to putting God and Jerusalem as Israel's capital back into the platform there are some who are quite offended at the idea. Those opposed to God are His enemies. If God is removed we could surely see the destruction of our freedoms...we are already seeing them being eroded.

James 4:4 shows us what we are when we oppose God...Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Romans 8:7 puts it another way.  ...the corrupt nature has a hostile attitude toward God. It refuses to place itself under the authority of God’s standards because it can’t (God's Word Translation). Strong words? You bet. Maybe it's why the mention of God is offensive. In our human pride and arrogance we can bristle at times when we know we are those imperfect souls.

The name of God is to be exalted in all the earth, not kicked to the curb, and no matter who we are some day every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is God! 

But here's the good news! If we DO humble ourselves, ask for forgiveness for how we've felt or what we've done or been, He is quick to forgive in return.

My platform in life is the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Call me fanatical, call me anything you want. This is only strengthens my stance. I believe I am on the winning team in the end. I'm thankful for that too. No one is going to tell me that God does not exist nor that it is a weakness to cling to such a belief. My trust will be in Him. His platform is sure. His platform is truth. His platform has and will stand the test of time.

We can come together and pray for our own forgiveness and the forgiveness of this nation. But it's still God's will that will be done. (Another blog on this!) We are a nation in peril. Thankfully, those who know the Lord need not fear, even if things get difficult. He will protect and provide for His people. He will give them strength when it is needed most. Praise God for that!

James 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.