There are two spiritual realities hardwired into the human heart. One is the God-shaped hole that can only be filled by God’s love and forgiveness. The other is rebellion against any notion of needing God’s help to solve the problems of life.This rebellion has ruled through human history and brought untold suffering to individuals, families, communities and nations. It has dictated that everyone should do what is right in their own eyes. Live for now. Live for your own pleasure and fulfilment. If it feels right, do it. Within this rebellion, a sophisticated philosophy has developed, based on science being the solution to all problems. Science, in fact, provides no solution to the problems of greed, jealousy, covetousness and all the other vices that reach their extremes in thieving, killing and even genocide. In our technologically advanced scientific age, we have seen the God-denying tyrannies of Hitler, Stalin and Mao -- all using the best science at their disposal. 

At best, we can say that science is neutral. It can be a tool for good or evil. Through science, the great pyramids and obelisks were built -- but on the oppression of God’s people. Pharaoh (possibly Ramses 'the Great') had scientific knowledge but no repentance. He used his great learning to slay the firstborn of the Hebrew slaves. Another Pharaoh couldn’t bring himself to repent even in the face of devastation from the plagues. Through science, Herod 'the Great' rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. Then, he slaughtered 2,000 babies with Roman swords (no doubt manufactured to the best technology of the day). Even the knowledge that God’s word was about to be fulfilled did not lead him to repentance. Alexander 'the Great’, when he saw the extent of his domain, 'wept for there were no more worlds to conquer'. Greed and selfish ambition are great obstacles to repentance. None of these ‘great' men humbled themselves. 

Nebuchadnezzar, though in the same league, was an exception. Though he created the great hanging gardens of Babylon, he realised his limitations and through the humiliation of insanity eventually acknowledged that God was sovereign. His successor Belshazzar (incidentally not known as the Great) had the privilege of Daniel in his court. But when he saw the writing on the wall, he ignored the warnings. Our generation can also see the writing on the wall. All can see the words of Jesus regarding the signs of His coming and of the end of the age. We are on the threshold of upheaval that we have not seen in modern times. Wars, rumours of wars (military mobilisation in the South China Sea), locust swarms across Africa, pestilence in the cities. Are we listening to the warnings?

Daniel could see the prophecy of Jeremiah about to be fulfilled. He could see the end of the seventy-year desolation of Jerusalem -- the end of exile. His response was the great prayer of repentance in Daniel 9, which should become a model for us all in these times. 

‘In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land…’

Another great model for repentance is in 2 Chronicles 7: 12-16 after the temple had been completed: 

‘The LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.’

For Naaman, it seemed degrading to go and wash in the river Jordan when he had far grander rivers in his own country. But when he put down his pride and did as Elisha instructed, he was healed. Let us all learn the lesson that repentance from sin and rebellion leads to forgiveness. Let us pray for our nation/s that the God-shaped hole, which has been created by rejection of His righteousness, will be filled again. Pray for your neighbours. Pray for your leaders. Pray for yourselves and your families to return to the Lord. Only God’s love & forgiveness can fill the aching of the human heart, can cleanse us and renew us, our families and our nation unto righteousness. 

'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.' Isaiah 55:7