October 1, 2026
When we look at 2 Chronicles 7:12-14, we have to realize that this passage is as important now as it was when it was written. In 1 Corinthians 10:11 we are reminded of what the Apostle Paul said about Israel in the Old Testament: “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (NASB).
So, we need to look at the context of how we are to see this passage (2 Chronicles 7:14) in the New Testament era of our nation.
The first thing we need to understand is that we live in a republic, not a monarchy. In 1787, while Benjamin Franklin was walking out of the convention hall, a woman approached him and asked him if she could ask him one question. When he granted her permission, she asked, “What have you given us?” Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it!”
Benjamin Franklin reminds us that we live in a republic, not a monarchy. A citizen’s first responsibility in a monarchy is to obey. Our first responsibility in a republic is to participate. As citizens of the United States who are Christians, we have a responsibility to make sure that we participate (as the salt and the light that Christ has made us) before it is too late.
The second thing we need to understand is that as true followers of Christ, we have a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17; I Corinthians 6:19-20). In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people on a temporary basis for certain reasons and circumstances. Now, since Christ was resurrected and ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit has been sent to indwell all who receive him as Lord and Savior.
What we do reflects what we are. As believers who have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we represent Christ here on earth until Jesus returns. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us that as Christians, we are “ambassadors for Christ.” We are called to represent Christ no matter what, no matter where we are. That makes a big difference, especially when we are operating in a republic rather than a monarchy. Christ in us can make a significant difference in government.
By “exponential,” I mean it is because of who we are in Christ, and the work He does in us beyond human strength. For the believer, lasting influence is not merely strategic actions; it is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in us. By “intentional,” I am referring to the responsibility we have to act with purpose and a plan to get God’s “salt and light” into government. In a republic, that includes things such as being registered to vote, participating in elections, running for public office, and engaging with government as citizens who belong first to Christ.
In 1630, John Winthrop said when he was coming over to our continent, “We shall be as a city set upon a hill.” There's no doubt that Winthrop believed that God had a purpose in establishing our nation.
When thinking about that statement from John Winthrop, former president Ronald Reagan said in the 1970s, “There was some divine plan that placed this great continent between two oceans to be sought out by those who were possessed of an abiding love of freedom and a special kind of courage.”
There's no doubt that Reagan believed that when it comes to “American Exceptionalism,” America was indeed a special place to live.
And this context of America reminds us of what was said in Deuteronomy 30:19-20. In that passage, God reminded the nation of Israel that He had given them the “promised land.” The land that God had given the nation of Israel was theirs if they too, could keep it. If they obeyed God, depended upon Him, and followed His will, then the gift would be maintained. This is definitely true on our 250th anniversary here in America.
God has given us three institutions to maintain this earth. He has given us the home, the church, and God is the one who has given us government according to Romans 13.
With all that being said, let’s look back at 2 Chronicles 7:14 and see that there are four principles that can help describe the exponential and intentional involvement in government that we should have.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
The first principle is “dependency.” The word dependency comes basically from the word humble that is used in this verse. Being humble and depending on God means denying self and acknowledging God's will for your life. We're reminded in Matthew 6:33 that we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then all these other things in our lives will be added unto us by God’s plan.
This reminds us that apart from God we can do nothing, but by abiding in Christ we can do anything that He calls us to do. Jesus reminded us of that in John 15, when he talked about us being a part of the vine and being the branches that will be used by God to produce much fruit for his glory.
The second principle is “believing.” The word believing is related to the word prayer that is used in this verse. The two words that go with prayer are believing and obeying.
Faith is the key to prayer as a believer, but one of the proofs of that faith in God is obedience to Him. James 2 reminds us that if a man has faith but he has no works, his faith is dead. Real faith is followed by obedience.
The third principle is “contentment.” This verse of scripture tells us that we're to first seek God's face. God did not say to seek His hand first, but rather to seek His face. Real Christianity is not a religion, but it is a relationship.
We're not just supposed to call on God when we are in difficult situations, but we are to look to Him always for our contentment and ability to live every day. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:12 that he knew who he had believed in and that God is able to keep what He had committed unto him against that day.
The last principle is “redirection.” This verse tells us that we are to “turn from our wicked ways.” Our nation, including us, has to change direction during the time that we are now in.
We must also see the fact that conviction does equal our direction. As a matter of fact, the first three principles (dependency, believing, and contentment) actually result in the last, which is redirection. When we talk about redirection, we're talking about going in the right direction that gives God all the glory for what we do.
When it comes to serving God, that also includes our participation in government. We have to be reminded again of what John Winthrop said when he talked about the fact that we are to be as a city set upon a hill that will bring God glory. That glory comes from the fact of the life-changing power of the gospel that makes our nation what it is supposed to be!
We're living in a time when we need to go back to what happened at the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:5. The Lord reminded the church at Ephesus that if they did not go back to their first love, they were going to lose their candlestick (witness).
So, it is also true in America that we must go back to our original founding and go back to our original understanding of who Christ is and what Christ is going to do in our lives for His glory. If we do this, we will see God do what he said in 2 Chronicles 7:14. That is, He will hear us, He will forgive us, and He will heal our land.
Now is the time in America for us to exponentially and intentionally be God's salt and light, even in government, for His glory.
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Mike Griffin is the Public Affairs Representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
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