Finishing the Race

I am nearing completion of 2 Chronicles. Amongst the many themes experienced by the different leaders of Judah and Israel, there is one element that stuck out this morning above all others. How many of these kings start out doing right. They remove the groves, they cut down the Ashtaroth poles, and they burn the idols and even set the temple aright after it is neglected.

They experience success in battle and peace on the frontier. In other words they are blessed for their faithfulness and those under them reap these rewards. Then their path diverges from righteousness and they pursue foreign idols and gods and they get derailed and everyone suffers for it. I will only highlight the two I read this morning, but it is a common theme with the kings (and people in general).

Joash in chapter 24 repairs the temple through great effort in combination with the priest Jehoida. Jehoida, who did great kindness and goodness to Joash dies at 130 years old. His son Zechariah arrives to speak with Joash and and says they have lost the blesssings of God by forsaking the Lord. Joash, full of himself ordered the stoning of Zechariah, the son of the man who did him so much good. Syria raises an army and kills many in Judah. After this his own servants kill Joash as he slept for murdering Zechariah. Joash started well, but over time he fell apart and lost the kingdom and his life and his sin caused great suffering and loss.

Joash's son Amaziah takes the crown and does what is right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart (2 Chron 25: 1-2). Amaziah hires wicked troops, but listens when corrected and sends them home without fighting. Then feeling his oats after defeating the Edomites, Amaziah challenges Israel to a fight and is warned by Isarl he does not want to do this. Amaziah, impressed with the gods of Edom begins burning incense to them (2 Chron 25: 14-15). Israel then whoops Judah because of this transgression and the loss of God's blessings.

These stories of kings encapsulate so many people and our own walks with the Lord. We often start with great vigor when we learn of Jesus and his mission to save the people of this world, then fall away as the years add up and our troubles increase. I have to wonder if some of our troubles are also not in response to our slowly falling away. God will allow things to happen to us in a corrective manner. God does not just shoo us away, he makes an effort to call us back into faithfulness.

This is something I think of often as I watch people struggle and experience my own challenges in life. Paul mentions it as he writes to Timothy in 2 Tim 4: 5-8. Paul was nearing the end of his life and he felt the need to encourage a young man with many years left. Paul encourages Timothy to stay the course, stay sober, and to endure the suffering that is coming his way and in so doing, fulfill his ministry. Paul has fought the good fight and finished the race and he wants Timothy to do the same.

Is this not what each one of us wants out of our life or the lives of our family members? Who doesn't want to weather the storms and navigate the troubled waters and come out the other side even stronger? We have example after example in the Bible of people who experience trouble, or in the example of the kings, wealth and success and cannot handle it and begin straying from the course as laid out. I urge you saints to remain faithful. There are sharks in the water. There are temptations all around. There are those who promise safety and security in exchange for your loyalty, but do not fall for it.

Trust God and trust the words of Jesus that he will not leave or forsake you. More trouble than we have known in many generations is coming. It is manufactured by Satan and implemented by evil and wicked men. Do not stumble in the face of this evil, but do the work of the evangelist so some might be saved.