2 Kings 18:3-7 - He did what was right in the
eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah
poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for
up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan. ) Hezekiah trusted in the LORD,
the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah,
either before him or after him. He held
fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the
commands the LORD had given Moses. And
the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.
He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
King Hezekiah….the king that was like his father David….the
king that was greater in God’s eyes than all the other kings of Judah…followed
God. We are not told where he learned to be so strong in the Lord…just given a
play by play of the results of his great faith. He cleaned the land of all idols…even
the ones in the hills that other kings deemed okay to leave. He even destroyed
the bronze serpent that Moses used to save those bitten by poisonous snakes….because
the people had given it a name…and burned incense to it ….thinking it was a god
in its own right.
It must have been one exciting time in history…Hezekiah’s
excitement for the Lord and his laws giving him courage to purge the land of
all remnants of satan’s influence. His
love of God must have touched all those around him…his success clearly a sign
that he was following the laws of God with all his heart and soul…his efforts
saving many lives in Judah during his reign.
It just goes to show you what can happen when you let God
light a fire of passion in your heart. It spreads….like a wildfire…and consumes
your whole being. Then God uses the
courage it forms in your soul to win others to his truth…because they see his
love in everything you do…and are drawn to be transformed by it too.
That’s what we need folks…a fire lit in our hearts…that
becomes a great wildfire…that God can direct and use to have a great revival in
the world. And here’s a thought…if more than one of us become Hezekiah’s….there
would be great revival’s all over the world. We could light a fire that would
spread God’s word to the ends of the world…just like we were told to do when
Jesus left us in Matthew 28:19.
The idols we would tear down are not as obvious to the eyes
as Hezekiah’s…for satan has hidden the idols of today deep in our minds. The
love of material wealth could be transformed into the best welfare system that
ever existed. The lust for flesh could
be transformed into a true love for all people…and cure diseases like
depression. And people would realize that their hunger for power is futile…for
God holds the only real power that anyone can use. Everyone in the world could
hear about the love of Christ and usher in the new kingdom of God here on
Earth.
Father…thank you for reminding me that my love of you can
always be stronger. Help me this morning
to trust in you like Hezekiah…and follow your laws with my whole heart and soul
and mind. Give me the courage to stand
in faith to speak against the idols of this world…and tear them down when you
direct me too. Light a fire in my soul that spreads to others and starts a
great revival in this town I live. And
start a fire in those around me…that will start fires everywhere your truth
needs to be shared. Let the love that
overflows form our hearts as we follow you model and teach others the truth of
your gospel…and transform lives…that transform the whole world….so we will all
be ready for your return. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment