Fix Yourself First
“And when the people ask, ‘Why has the
LORD our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me
and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a
land not your own.’” – Jeremiah 5:19
We want to put God back in our schools. We want to put
prayer back in our public meetings. We want to place carved images of the Ten
Commandments on public property. We are convinced that doing these things will
lead to a revival in our country. We know that doing these things will decrease
violence, drug abuse, gang activity, and general unlawfulness.
But will any of those things change your heart? Will
any of those things put God back in your home? Will any of those things cause
you to rearrange your priorities so that God is first at all times, no matter
the cost or sacrifice?
We want our world to change for the better but we don’t
want to be part of that change. We call for others to do things. We pray “thy
will be done” when we really mean “my will be done.”
We harden our hearts toward foreigners and those who
don’t look like us. We brush aside those who face financial challenges, being
quick to blame them while tightly holding on to what we have. We aren’t going
to share. Nope. No way. They can work hard and get their own stuff.
We like our stuff. We cling to it as though we’ll have
it forever. We act as though now is all there is. We believe that no one is
more important than self. Well, maybe family so long as they exalt us.
We don’t see anything wrong with our behavior. We don’t
recognize the double-standard. We’re so busy condemning abortion and
homosexuality that we miss love and mercy, grace and compassion. We judge what
isn’t ours to judge. We cast out people that God loves. We call ourselves
justified. Our sins call us condemned.
Except for the blood of Jesus. We’re quick to point that
out. He saved us and we’re headed to heaven – along with everyone we like. We
can’t imagine that God wants to save murderers and rapists, white-trash and
foreigners. We act as though God couldn’t possibly want anyone who isn’t like
us. Does anyone else see the hypocrisy? Jesus ate with tax collectors, fallen
women, those who were poor and cast out. The Pharisees were furious. Jesus didn’t
care.
But we care. We want all the perks of being Christ
followers without all the dirtiness of associating with “sinners.” We want all
our toys, our electronics, our nice cars, our big houses, without having to
sacrifice anything for the Church or orphans or widows or foreigners. We are like
young children yelling “mine!” even though everything really belongs to God.
Some people don’t believe the Bible, especially the
Old Testament, is relevant today. I would invite them to read Jeremiah. This
great prophet warns God’s people of His coming wrath but they didn’t believe
him. They couldn’t understand how God could possibly let His people be captured
by Babylon. They kept thinking God would change his mind, even when they
refused to change their hearts and their behavior.
Do you want to fix our country? Do you want to turn it
back toward Christ? Then start at home. Pray without ceasing. Live with
compassion and kindness. Share freely. Give to God first, trusting Him with all
your needs. Be His light in this dark world. Stop waiting for someone else to
lead the way. Start where you are. Change your heart. And watch how powerfully
God shows up to change your life.
