“Back on the Right Track”
2 Chronicles 29:1-11
In January 2005, a freight train accident in Graniteville, South Carolina, caused a hazardous chemical spill that caused nine deaths, sent 550 people to hospitals and forced the evacuation of 5,400 people – the nation’s worst chemical accident from a train crash since 1978. This was one of 75 train accidents in the State of South Carolina in 2005.
The accident was caused when a manual track switch was left in the wrong position. After moving their train onto a sideline track, operators of the train failed to reset the manual switch so that another train would stay on the main line. Hours later, the train that was supposed to stay on the main line hit the parked train on the sideline and the chemicals were released. The spilled chlorine caused a gaseous cloud that hovered over the city through nightfall
There is a price to pay for being on the 'wrong track'! In Graniteville, it was injury, evacuation, and death. In the Spiritual Realm we find the same thing when our “spiritual car” runs off the track. A sad thing occurs when we are on the wrong track, headed for disaster, and don't realize it.
When we look at the events of this past weekend, if you were like most of us, you were somewhat surprised at the things God wanted you to deal with and change. From our story today, let's see what we can learn to help us “stay on track.”
Our story begins with Hezekiah becoming King at age 25. The interesting thing is the need for verse 2 (read). You can get an understanding as to why this is important if you look in chapter 28:1 and read about his daddy, King Ahaz (Read). The writer of Chronicles, although unknown, wanted us readers to understand the significance of Hezekiah getting the country back on track. Follow this thinking and see 3 things with me.
1.See your reason for being 'off-track'.
I must confess to you that this seems to be the most difficult of all to do. We ask things like “why does this happen to me?” “why are things like they are?” “why is this country in such turmoil?' And candidly, we really would rather not know, notice, or admit it. It we do know or admit we know, there may be some things WE need to address. From my heart I offer all of us this truth: until we face the reasons for us, that is our culture-country and self, being like we are, (We used to call it off the “straight and narrow”) we have little hope of righting the ship. Consider 3 things we must see;
a)See the context of sin. - (V6a – Read) Hezekiah had no problem in looking back at his family tree admitting many were unfaithful and even evil in the sight of the Lord. Read the names in scripture: Ahab, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Amaziah, Ahaz, and even Josiah toward the end of his life. Hezekiah doesn't see his family tree in light of affection, but of awe. He was in awe of God and understood that, in God's sight, much evil had been done.
Back on the Right Track – Pg 2
But he didn't stop his evaluation there.
b)See the content of sin. - (Read v6b-7) Isn't it true that our first thought is to minimize and rationalize our sin even to the point of saying, “It wasn't as bad as someone else?” Refusing to see the vial content of our sin is a sign that we are not convinced that it was so bad. Yet, Hezekiah did no such thing. His words cut deeply into the conscience of his people and into the memories of those who had gone before. Did you catch all the indictments? They abandoned God, turned away from the house of worship by turning their backs on God. But that was not enough. They even closed the doors and did away with everything which allowed them to worship Jehovah God. It is true that, in America, we have not closed the doors on houses of worship (YET!), but I submit that we have systematically turn about backs on and abandoned the God who formed, sustained, and has upheld this country. ...Now, while this message is popular, please consider a difficult thought with me; the only way this country could abandon God is for God's people (those who claim to be believers) to allow sin in their lives. What is the content of our sin? For many, it is the sin of unbelief. The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved.” Scripture goes on to tell us that when we call on Jesus and receive Him as personal Savior that God will give us the right (privilege) to become Children of God.” One of the sins is unbelief. Another one goes by a number of names; apathy, complacency, indifference, unconcern, and even laziness. Before we can get back on the right track, we will have to confess how evil our sin is.
c)See the consequences of sin. - Let's read verse 8. Does this verse catch anyone else's attention? God's wrath (or anger) toward the two places where His chosen people were located made them an object of terror, horror, and hissing. I may not know what all these terms means, but I know enough to say with some certainly that God didn't believe in Dr. Spock's “never spank your kids” philosophy. Other translations uses words like, trouble, astonishment, scorn, dread, jeers, and even ridicule. The true context of this is that we are reading about external attributes. Hezekiah says, “that you can see with your eyes.” In other words, you can't argue with me because you saw it and know it to be true.
The King, like a preacher, wanted to make sure that those for whom he was responsible came to grips with the reason their lives was like it was.
2.See your road for getting 'on-track.' - Many of us use a GPS today in the place of the old 'road map'. When you have a road map and you know where you are, generally, you can find your way home. If you are off course, you can right the ship. Hezekiah knew how to do this;
a)Commitment – This his first step (Verse 2) He made the commitment to have a good role model and follow that model. He followed through on His commitment. This is the call to you and me.
Back on the Right Track – Pg 3
Consider our Lay Renewal Weekend and the commitments many of us made to their Lord. Over 60 expressed interest in a small group like we had during the LRW. Right now that is only an interest. In days to come, you will have an opportunity to make it a commitment. Commitment is a big deal. It is THE THING which is lacking in the life of many believers today. They are interested and want to participate, but to commit is to put your life where your talk is. This is the first step toward getting on the right track. When a person commits he will do just like Hezekiah did, he will live his life right in God's sight, and then will do everything he can to make his world right in the sight of God. The King opened the doors and even repaired them so they could be used by others. For the King it was the 'others' that he engaged (the Priest and Levites).
b)Consecration – Verse 5 gives us the King's call to consecration. This is not a word we used much these days, but we should. It has slipped out of style as has words like 'commitment, holy, fear, and purity.' To be consecrated is to be 'set apart'. Being set apart is not about being 'isolated' but rather insulated. When we set ourselves apart for His service, in effect, we put on the “armor of faith” which serves to help us deflect the fiery darts of Satan. It's not about being religious but rather about being real. It's not about acting crazy but about acting consistent. To consecrate yourself is to set yourself apart for service by your action. I will suggest that one of the reasons why we have such difficulty with consecration to God is because to consecrate oneself to God is to turn loose of our gods in this present world. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters.” Consecration defeats divided loyalty. Everyone of us is consecrated to something. What are you consecrated to? To get back on the right track is to consecrate yourself to the Father, for His service, and for His will. Once we consecrate to God, we will discover that we must do one other thing which we find in our text.
c)Cleansing – In the last part of verse 5 we hear the King give this command, “Remove everything detestable from the Holy Place.” The road to being back on track with the Father begins with the deep commitment to Him that leads to a consecration to Him. As a result, you come to know the things in your life which are detestable, corrupt, filthy, impure, & defiling to your life. Knowing these things, you know that your divine command is to remove them, put them down, off, away, and in some cases, put them to death. In the temple, the King said, “Remove them.” The New Testament tells us the we are the “Temple” and the command is the same, “Remove everything which is displeasing to God.” Some want to come to God on 'their own' terms, that is keeping things they like in their life. God still says, “Remove every filthy thing.” This is not a request, it is a requirement. Hopefully, last weekend you and I began the process of being renewed & righting our road toward the Father. In doing this, my prayer is the “casting off has begun in your heart.” If not, why not? Begin today.
Back on the Right Track – Pg 4
3.See your rationale for staying 'on-track.' - When we discover our reason for being off-track, then see the road to getting on track we come in faith to the Father and get back on the right track; it won't be long before the enemy begins to barrage you with weapons of mass destruction. That old man, Satan, will attack you in anyway he can to derail you once again. Candidly, because we are so familiar with the wrong road (it is the road most traveled), it will be easy to lose our way, 'if' we cannot clearly see the right (narrow) road. King Hezekiah gives us clear word with can penetrate our hearts and give us a rationale for staying right.
a)The Call of God. - (Read Verse 11) Can you sense the message of the King? It would seen that He understood human behavior. He begins with the admonition “Don't be negligent.” Today, I offer don't neglect your personal time with God, don't neglect your Sunday School class, don't neglect corporate worship every time we gather. Last week, 65 people signed up for small groups and 13 people volunteered their homes to host small groups. Don't neglect the small group. Don't neglect any opportunity to grow in your spiritual maturity, to be faithful to our Lord and His bride, and to the people for whom Jesus died. God call is to be faithful, to worship (stand in His presence and burn incense), to serve Him, and to be a minister for Him in this land.
b)The Chastisement from God. - While this reason may seem a little humanistic for some of us, it is still Bible (even though it is not very popular to say). To the believer in Christ, we are still God's children and He is still our Abba Father. As our Father, He will chastise us when we turn away from His will. Our disobedience will move Him to the point of wrath and anger. God expects His own to obey. Most don't care to hear about this part of God's nature, but it is written in the pages of God's word. When I was a boy, my rationale for staying clear of trouble was that mom and dad would 'apply the board of education to the seat of knowledge.' Make no mistake, you and I are foolish to think we can disobey God and not be punished. There is a great deterrent found in punishment.
c)The Covenant with God. - Read verse 10a. I like the word covenant more than contract. In simplistic terms; a contract is based on law and a covenant is based on love. Hezekiah says, “It is in my heart” which is where a covenant begins. In marriage, it should be more of a covenant than a contract because it began in your heart. Responding on the basis of love evokes a different type of action than responding by law. Which is your response toward God today? Love or Law? In your heart is there a covenant connection with the Father? Does this keep you clean, pure, holy, sensitive, and walking in the Spirit?
I ask 2 questions: 1) Do you have a personal relationship with God thru Jesus Christ? 2) Are you on the right track with Him today?
