This week, a woman walked into a Christian Church school and killed six people. Why would God allow this to happen to a Christian school? The question that should arise in every Christian’s heart is, “ Lord, what message are you trying to give to your people?”

There is no doubt that tribulation will come to the people of God and it has already begun. We don’t need prophets, pastors, books, or teachers to tell us that tribulation will come. Jesus, Himself, warned us several times about the coming suffering and tribulation. Jesus says in John 15: 19-20, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they keep my word, they will also keep yours.”

Believers in Christ Jesus should not be surprised when persecution and tribulation comes. They should be prepared. Persecution will come because of our faith and having been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ. The world hates us because of our faith in Jesus Christ and especially when we remain faithful to our Lord, and to His Word, in the face of opposition. But He comforts us by imploring that we be of good cheer. That if we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake our reward is in heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

When Jesus informed His disciples of the signs that would indicate the end of the age and of His return in Matthew 24. He said in verse 9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name.” There are some poor, misguided souls who think that this passage refers only to Jesus’ disciples in His day who, in fact, did encounter persecution and some, even death. But these words weren’t preserved just for Christs’ disciples in His day, but also for His disciples living in the end-times or last days.

So, what message from the Nashville shooting is God sending to Christians. The answer is very simple, “If my people who are called by name would humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I shall hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will HEAL THEIR LAND.”

America cannot and will not be healed until the people of God will humble themselves and pray; not arrogantly or proud, but with humility. The word seek comes from the Hebrew word, “baqash” meaning to beg and plead for His attention. We seek His face by pleading with Him to hear our prayer, acknowledging that He alone is our help. You might say, “I do pray humbly and seek His face.” But what many Christians have not done is TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS. There is as much sin in the churches as there is in the world. In the churches you find greed, homosexuality, fornication, lying, adultery, malicious gossips, etc. If Christians would turn from their wicked ways, then God promised to forgive them, and heal their land.

Be not deceived, America is not declining because of the unsaved, America is declining because of the saved. God’s people, which includes the churches, must turn from their own wicked ways.