For the Moment, All is Well
2 Chr. 14:1,2
1 ¶ So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. (KJV)
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: (KJV)
A common problem in church circles is the waning of a zeal for the Lord that leads to backsliding.
It is not how one starts, but how the state of one is at the end of the journey that counts with God.
David had been a faithful king and leader, serving God and faithful to the end. Oh, yes, there were bumps in the road, and
times that he messed up big time. But he repented and returned to the place he needed to be in God.
Solomon followed his dad, David. He started out well, even asking God for wisdom to lead the people of God. Then Solomon became influenced by foreign women, whom he married and they drew him toward their pagan gods. Due to his compromise, the children of Israel became divided.
Following Solomon, was Rehoboam, who did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Then came Abijah who started his reign pursuing the path of Jehovah, then he went south with his dedication to God.
Then Asa raised up as the new king. For 10 years, there was peace in Israel, as Asa did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord. How long could he keep it up? Is it possible for a man or a woman to be faithful to the end? All it take is one bad decision to cause things to start going sour.
Remember: Failure does not have to be fatal.
I. Asa started out right.
1 Chr. 14:3,4
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: {images: Heb. statues} (KJV)
4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. (KJV)
With zeal for God, he destroyed the false gods and all that was related to their adoration.
He decreed that the people of Israel seek God and follow His commandments.
He even had the gall and boldness to remove his grandmother from her queenly throne for her involvement in idolatry.
2 Chr. 15:16
16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. {mother: that is, grandmother} {idol: Heb. horror} (KJV)
How was King Asa able to do this. At least part of the secret is found in the following scripture:
1 Kings 15:14
14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. (KJV)
His face was set against this idolatry. God said that he had a "perfect heart" at this point in his life.
NOTE: Even though he did not see all the high places removed, God did not count him a failure in his pursuit for righteousness at this point in his venture.
*Eliminate everything that looks like and smells like an idol from your life. The constant surrounding of idolatry and the acceptance of idols by others close to us, can cause us to become soft in our attitude toward it.
The idol may be tangible: money, possessions, a person, etc.
The idol may be intangible: your unfaithfulness to the house of God, your lack of personal devotion time, your attitude toward the things of God and the people of God. It may be the improper management of your time.
II. Asa DEPENDED upon the Lord
2 Chr. 14:11
11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. {man: or, mortal man} (KJV)
Through prayer, fasting, and waiting on the Lord, we are able to see the hand of God working in our behalf. It is not our handling of the matter in our strength and asking God to bless it, but it is God working through us as we submit ourselves completely to Him.
Asa defeated his enemies as he relied upon God for his defence. He did not seek out strong military leaders to flank his side. He simply trusted in the Lord.
III. Unfortunately Asa Quit Doing the Right Thing
2 Chr. 16:1-13 relates to us the sad story of how Asa started doing foolishly. After 36 years of doing so well and doing things Gods' way, Asa did some serious slipping and sliding.
A. He paid another king to deal with his enemy.
B. When rebuked by the prophet Hanani, he threw him into prison.
C. Becoming sick in his later years of life, Asa sought out doctors and did not seek the Lord for healing.
There is a warning that was given out some years before by prophet Azariah, but was not heeded.
2 Chr. 15:2
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. (KJV)
The principle is still the same.
We must seek Him and seek Him with all of our heart.
It is amazing that people who have experienced the blessings of God over and over, but will decide to quit trusting Him and do things a different way.
The devil will do his best to make you believe that even though you are happy and satisfied serving Jesus, there still must be a different way to do things and get by just as well.
Uzziah was another king who had the same problem.
2 Chr. 26:5
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. (KJV)
When Uzziah tried to do things his own way, God smote him with leprosy. He lived his last years isolated and diseased because he quit seeking the Lord.
IL.: Chucky got a job at the bank and was so elated. He worked hard and used his accounting abilities to become an outstanding employee. After only a year, it looked like he may get promoted to the position of chief accounting executive. A former employee had retired and the position was open. Even though he did not have much seniority, he had impressed his bosses with his hard work and dedication. He called his wife and told her that it was almost certain that he would get the position and a sizeable raise. On lunch break he stepped in a nearby supermarket to buy a couple of items. While in line at the cash register, he slipped a small pack of gum into his back pocket. What he did not realize, was that his boss was in the same line just a little ways behind him. He saw what Chucky had done. Needless to say, Chucky did not get the position at the bank. It would be reserved for someone who was faithful in little as well as in much.
Luke 16:10
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (KJV)
