We thought we had completed the mandate on national corruption, but God had other ideas. He wants us to stay on the topic for at least one more post. It is possible that you are not convinced that unrighteousness breeds national corruption. Perhaps you are not yet convinced that brain drain results from corruption in a nation. We believe God wants us to stay on it because you alone can right the wrongs in your country.
That may come as a shock to you, as it did to us. But after God made His case, we knew we had to share. How can you alone tackle the unrighteousness in your midst when thousands of preachers have failed? Allow us to look at the first premise. We assume that preachers are men of God. We even refer to them by that name. I remember being shocked when somebody introduced a lady at a social gathering.
She eulogized her as a woman of God who had done one, two, or three things you would not consider godly. That caught my attention. It seems that a devil can be called a man of God if he preaches. So, when we say God is looking to you alone to bring righteousness into your nation, do not look to the preachers in your midst.
They are doing their preaching job just as you do your teaching or doctoring job. Instead, look to the God of heaven and His words in the Bible. There, we read, “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem. See now and know and seek in her open places. If you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment; who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her.”
God Is Seeking You Alone
Read that passage and insert your nation in the place of Jerusalem. God’s promise here is clear. If he can find one man (or woman), anyone who executes judgment or justice, He will pardon your country. Wow! I see two things there. God is a truly gracious and kind God. Secondly, righteousness has fallen in the land. And both are related.
During the time of Abraham, God would have pardoned Sodom and Gomorrah if He had found ten righteous people. Sadly, there were not enough just men. So, by the time of the prophets, God had brought it down to one man – you alone. God constantly seeks to save and heal us and our land. He set the bar so low that if He finds one person, He will heal our land. National corruption will disappear.
The second point in that verse is so sad. The angels run to and fro, and they find none. Alas, God cannot heal your land. If you alone can arise and become righteous, you may live to see your country emerge from corruption. That is what I see in that verse. What do you see? My reading of it makes me sad.
Charity must begin at home. What is my righteousness like? Do I bend the truth and think it is not lying? Jeremiah says in the book of Lamentations, “Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.” Please find time to read it. Just click on the link. It may be that God is speaking to you alone.
We Give the Last Word To The Prophet
When God does not find anyone righteous, even you alone, in the land, this is what happens. Let us get out of the way and give the floor to Jeremiah.
“Though they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ surely they swear falsely.”
O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved.
You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction.
They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.
Therefore, I said, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God.
I will go to the great men and speak to them, for they have known the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God.” But these have altogether broken the yoke
And burst the bonds. Therefore, a lion from the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; a leopard will watch over their cities.
Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many; their backslidings have increased.”
God is waiting for someone, anyone, you alone, to be righteous by being in Christ, and to practice righteousness. Then, He will fulfil His promise. “Nevertheless, in those days,” says the Lord, “I will not make a complete end of you.” God is waiting.
Maranatha!
