Changing Self, Changing the Nation

“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 will heal their land.”

- 2 Chronicles 6:14

The Philippines is facing another political crisis. It seems that the crisis is unending. Poverty is widespread.  Graft and corruption is evident. Many of our elderly have lost hope for the Philippines. Many Filipinos have migrated in other countries in pursuit of a greener pasture. A number of graduates desire to leave this country.  The dream of the young people is to find job outside the Philippines as its government has no much job opportunities to offer.

In an opinion corner in a local newspaper, the writer said that the political crisis in the Philippines is only a symptom of the moral and spiritual crisis in the Philippines. He underscored the urgent need for renewal and a need to turn to Christ in personal conversion. Yes, I affirmed to what he said that the key to change the nation is to change self. Transformation of a nation can start from personal conversion.

Without personal conversion, it is a helpless situation to change a nation. Several demonstrations have been done by activists. We had experienced different leadership styles of president, yet we have not attained the change that we are expecting in our country.

The ultimate problem we are facing is moral degradation.  The sure sign of moral and spiritual death is sexual immorality. Our society has tolerated this sin. How many of our youth consider pre-marital sex as acceptable? How many of married men or women are committing adultery?

What are our political leaders doing? Even political leaders have demonstrated unfaithfulness to their wives. They are also guilty of graft and corruption. If our leaders are doing such acts, what could be expected of the followers?

Is there still hope for our country? The answer is “yes”. God just wants His people to humble themselves and seek His face. Humbling means coming to Him in full surrender.  His people should not take pleasure in sin but in seeking His face. God wants to heal our land, our nation.

We want to change because we want to see different results – in our lives, in our work, our family, our relationships and our nation. The change that we want to see in these areas of our lives start with the change that happens within us!

We cannot wait for anybody else, let’s be the first to change!!!

If we do not change, you will keep on seeing the same problem. Why? Because the problem, if you do not change will go with you…. Because the real problem is you.

“Lord, change me so I can be an agent of change in my nation. Let me be a good example to my generation and to the next generations to come. This I ask, in Jesus name, Amen.”