Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people- that they would be laid to waste-and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.  Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace.  Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’ ”  2 Kings 22:18  NIV

This passage of scripture speaks of the reign of Josiah.  Josiah became king at the age of 8.  The Bible tells us in 2 Kings 22:2 that Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father, David.  It tells us that he did not turn aside to the right or the left.  At the age of 26, Josiah appoints men to repair the temple.  The high priest found a book in the temple which was the Book of the Law.  Josiah was greatly distressed when he read what was in the book because he found that their ancestors before them had not obeyed the words of the book and that the Lord’s anger burned against their land.  I encourage you to read the entire chapter, which is only 20 verses.  Josiah was grieved because of the sins that had been, and were being, committed.  Many kings before Josiah had been evil and did not do right in the eyes of the Lord.  The Lord had become fed up with their idol worship and their refusal to obey the law and was about to bring destruction on this land and its people.  In this scripture passage, God assured Josiah through a prophet, that he would not see this destruction but would die and be buried peacefully.

You see Josiah had a choice.  He could have followed in the footsteps of all the other kings and said something crazy like, “well that’s the way it’s always been done” or he could do what was right in the eyes of God. We have that same choice.

As adults, we are fully accountable.  We can choose to serve God or serve idols. Yes, I said idols. We may serve our friends, we may serve the neighborhood bar, we may serve a hobby, we may serve all the expensive things that we so desperately crave.  Whatever gets in our way of serving God is our idol or idols.  The Bible tells us in Exodus 34:14, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.”  We know we serve a loving God.  We know that we serve a merciful God, but we serve a jealous God.  Our God is patient, loving, and kind, but woe unto us when He has had enough of our foolish behavior.  So we must choose, do we follow the crowd?  Do we go along to get along? Do we give in to our temptations? Or do we follow God?

I have learned that following the crowd leads to destruction.  I have learned that following God leads to peace and joy in my life. The choice is clear for me. But, every waking moment we must make choices.  We must choose to eat healthy or eat junk.  We must choose to take junk in through the television, movies, and music that we watch and hear or to take in good, clean entertainment.  We must choose to do good or do evil.  We must choose to follow God or follow man.  Now years ago this was a tough choice for me.  Today, it’s a no brainer. I know, that by serving God, I have a life filled with peace and by following man I have a life full of chaos.

My hope for you today is that you have already made that same choice, but if you have not, I hope you do so quickly.  None of us ever know how much time we have left here.  This scripture passage brings to mind my favorite Psalm, which is Psalm 91.  In verses 7 and 8, God promises us that though a thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, this destruction will not come near us.  We will only observe with our eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

God can give us so much more than the world.  Why would we want to follow the ways of the world?  Today’s headlines are bleak.  We have mass shootings in churches and schools, we have political leaders facing criminal charges, or that should be facing criminal charges.  It doesn’t look good.  Sounds a lot like Judah in the days of king Josiah.  We may not be able to change the world, but we can save ourselves by turning to God and turning from our evil ways.  And who knows in the process, perhaps we can lead others to change.  2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;  then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

There is evil all around us, but we can’t save anyone else unless we first save ourselves.  So save yourself and then work on those around you.  The reward is greater than anything you can fathom!

Have a great day!