A REVIVAL FOR OUR GENERATION

"Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king...He did what was right in the Lord's sight just as his ancestor David had done." 2 Chronicles 29:1,2

In the last post Isaiah faced a sobering reality: The Lord tells him that despite his praying and preaching, ultimate judgment is coming to the nation. The cities of Judah will lie in ruins and the inhabitants of the land will be carried away into exile (see Isaiah 6:11,12). This begs the question, "If judgment is coming anyway, what's the point of praying for revival and preaching to hard-hearted people who won't listen?"

The answer to that question lies in the events that would unfold before Isaiah. True, Ahaz came to the throne and wreaked havoc on the nation, just as Isaiah feared he would. King Ahaz set up idols and shrines all over the land and encouraged the vile practices that went along with pagan worship. He erected an altar to a foreign god in the court of the Lord's temple. He even sacrificed his own children to the god Molech. In short, he made wickedness the law of the land. He called "evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). As a result his rather short reign (16 years) was characterized by economic collapse and military defeat.

Nevertheless, through it all a man named Isaiah was praying and preaching. While many rejected his efforts, Isaiah's influence would reach into places he could not have imagined -- even into the king's palace. Isaiah's personal revival "infected" a few key individuals who would have dramatic influence on the nation. Among these was Hezekiah, the son of King Ahaz. Despite the wickedness of his father, Hezekiah followed Isaiah's God with all his heart. Hezekiah caught the "good infection" from Isaiah, and when he became king, Hezekiah led Judah in a national revival.

Here's the moral of the story: Even though we know ultimate judgment is coming, we can still secure revival for our generation. Furthermore, we have the responsibility to do so. This is the "word" that has been echoing in my spirit for weeks: "Every generation has the responsibility to secure revival for their generation."

We must not conclude that because judgment will inevitably come (as the book of Revelation makes clear), there is therefore nothing for us to do but huddle in our holy enclaves and wait for Jesus to come. No. We must pro-actively address the present need around us with present action, specifically, revival praying and preaching and witnessing to our friends and neighbors. God is ready and willing to accommodate the faith of those who will. He will send a "near" revival -- one that begins in our own hearts, homes, church and community -- one that starts now.

In the next post we will look at the specific action steps Hezekiah took which led to his "near" revival.