Fully Committed To the LORD All His Life
(1 Kings 15: 9ampsim24)
A soap opera Sky Castle is currently on everyones lips talking about the problem of our childrens education. There are no good or bad parents. However, the world considers the parents, devoted to their childs success as the best ones while regarding others as insignificant. We fall into evil desiring money, which drives us adulterous. The more we earn, the more we are addicted to chasing money, the more adulterous we become. Without the extreme cautious necessary to walk on the razors edge, we fall into mannerism and struggle to be fully committed to God. Yet Asas heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. Lets see how he became fully committed to God.
1. He overcame his parents sins. Asa means a healer. As his name indicates, he played the role of a healer, who helped his people stand right before God. He carried out a drastic reform within the structure of true worship. He expelled the male shrine prostitutes and deposed the queen mother for making a repulsive Ashera pole. Inspired by Azariahs message, Asa was able to drive out idol worshipers including his queen mother. The etymology of Ashera is happiness while repulsive means to pierce or to break. Therefore, a 'repulsive Ashera' means happiness without Jesus which breaks our life. Thats why Asa deposed his grandmother Maacah, whose influence made Rehoboam and Abijah immature. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, he couldnt have done this. 2 Chronicles records Azariahs message in detail, showing us that a good king is usually affected by a good prophet. So it was with Asa, who understood the Word and listened to Azairah. He cut down the Ashera pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley, a spiritual place. Thus he knew where he should carry out his mission. Burning the pole and deposing Maacah were Asas effects. Likewise, burning down our idols on earth is a blessing. Salvation is not something to achieve, but to reach by walking together. It calls for us to look at our parent as a person who needs Gods salvation. Asa brought into Gods temple all the silver and golden articles. This contrasted him with Solomon, who accumulated large amounts of silver and gold. Thus he was upright in dealing with his wealth.
2. He waged war throughout his reign. The verse 'There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns' is replaced with 'There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asas reign.' in 2 Chronicles (15:19), which emphasizes the positive aspect of Judah. The 41 years of Asas reign is composed of 20 peaceful years and 21 years of war. In that aspect, both verses above make sense. Therefore, it is totally up our faith, whether we say 'There was war' or 'There was no more war' in our life. When Asa finished his great reformation, Baasha king of Israel built a fort at Ramah and close the border between Israel and Judah so no one could enter or leave Judah. Baasha actually wanted to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem. When Baasha attacked Judah, the army of Judah was already weakened after the war against Guz. So Asa sent all the silver and gold to Ben-Hadad the king of Aram, asking for his military support without inquiring of God. Thus he defeated his brother kingdom with a gentile army, yet providing it with the road of invasion into the whole of Israel. Baasha withdrew his army in haste because of Ben-Hadads attack, leaving all the building materials behind, with which Asa built up Geba through his forced labor. How mean he was! Asa stepped into the stage of constant war in contrast to his first reformation, which brought about peace.
3. He got a final A grade from God. Even though Asa was upright before God, he didnt remove the high places. Yet God acknowledged that Asa was fully committed to Him all his life. Actually, Asa bribed Ben-Hadad, imprisoned Hanani the seer, and persecuted the people who sided with the seer while he was enjoying his absolute authority. As a result, he had a disease in his old age as Gods punishment. About this, 2 Chronicles says 'even in his illness (in his feet) he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.' Nevertheless, God had pity on Asa. With our faith in Jesus, we can clothe our old nature with a new one with ratios of 50:50, 49:51, 48:52 and so on. Even in our 90:10 transformations, however, we are not perfect because of the unchanging 10 percent. The faith of the kings of Judah was always disappointing to God. However, God had mercy on them and gave them the lamp of David, watching them rely on Him in troubles. Likewise, we can be recognized by God as the one committed to Him simply by staying in the structure of true worship. What an amazing grace! Therefore, let us not be depressed but seek the Lord. Lets get the final evaluation of God that we were fully devoted to God all our life.
Heres a confession from the leader of our Silver Mokjang, who has regarded earning money as her golden shield. After hearing that her gastric cancer had spread to her breasts, lymph glands, and spine, she cried Hallelujah for the opportunity to reflect on her life and repent as Gods child. Touched by the message that what matters is how to use money rather than how to earn it, she decided to devote her money for the pastors and hospital patients who cant afford to attend WCC Pastors Seminar and for sending QTin to prisoners. What an application! Thus she glorified God even in her cancer situation. Wouldnt God give his final grade Fully committed to her? May God bless us all to receive his certificate of final recognition despite our imperfection!
Although he did not remove the high places, Asas heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. (1Kgs 15:14)
