June 18
2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 2 Kings 11:4-12; 2 Chronicles 23:1-11; 2 Kings 11:13-16; 2 Chronicles 23:12-15; 2 Kings 11:17-21; 2 Chronicles 23:16-21; 2 Kings 12:1-16; 2 Chronicles 24:1-22; 2 Kings 10:32-36
I'm sorry to say, but we are just not as good as we think we are. Though none want to admit this, we are all submitted to someone or something. How many parents are shocked when the children they raised go off to college and transform into young adults that they scarcely recognize. But the transition makes sense when one realizes what has changed is their child's sphere of influence. Before college the main influence is the household and whatever influences the parents allow in. But in college, the main influence is their peers and their professors. Children raised in a godly environment very quickly learn to assimilate into their new godless environment. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:33, " “bad company corrupts good character.” Realize this is why there are no grandchildren in heaven. Though we can guide, we can't force any of our loved ones and acquaintances into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. This is a decision which they must make on their own. Once in that relationship, how well we walk on this earth, is determined by that which we choose to allow to influence us. If we surround ourselves with the things of God, we will walk in a godly manner, but if we choose to follow the godless influences around us, even those in a relationship with Jesus Christ will backslide and are capable of walking in godless ways.
This is so vividly depicted in the life of King Joash. Protected at the age of one, and hidden in the temple to be raised by the priest, Jehoiada, and crowned as king at the age of 7, we see the major influence in his young life as seen in 2 Chronicles 23:11, " Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone shouted, “Long live the king!”" As long as this was the major influence, he tore down altars to false gods, repaired the temple, and brought about godly reforms. We see this in 23:16, "Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people." But everything changes, once Jehoaida and his influence are gone, as we read in 24:17-22, "But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen. Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!” Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son."
Are we surprised by the turn around in King Joash? After all those years of service, he pays back his mentor, Jehoiada, by killing his son, Zechariah. But the king simply switched who he was listening to and what he allowed to influence him. We better take seriously what it is that we allow to influence ourselves and our loved ones. The young minds of our children are being corrupted by a totally godless curriculum being put forth in our public schools. Television and social media seems to have no restraint in how godless they will go. Celebrities who are revered in our society push their godless rhetoric shamelessly. We read in John 8:31-32 (NKJV), " Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Some will state that they don't really read the Bible, but they do go to church on occasion, or pray with their children at night. Stop for a moment, take the time to place the number of hours in a given week and figure out how much time we and our children are being influenced by the things of God, as opposed to the godless society that we find ourselves immersed in, including those quiet times when the television is on or you are scrolling through social media. After doing this, if you honestly realize how wrongly slanted your life is towards what is godless, please make some serious changes today. Jesus can and will influence our lives to what is godly, but that is if we take the time to submit to His influence.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: