Steps to Not Fall

2nd Chronicles 25

There are many books and many passages of Scripture that we have at our fingertips that can guide us so we can finish strong in the Christian race. Even though there are so much help and accountability out there, people still will fall. They will not only fall but they will not end that well. 

In this chapter of 2nd Chronicles we have a great opportunity to look at the lives of these kings who God allowed to lead his people and see how they finished. We have a new king in charge, king Amaziah who was son of Joash who did right in the eyes of the Lord yet his whole heart was not in it.

Yesterday we read about Joash who started strong but when his spiritual leader died, he went off the godly path onto a wild side of life. His son maybe did a little better but was not committed.

What Happened?

We see that Amaziah began to reign over Judah when he was 25 and he did right in the eyes of the Lord yet his not with his whole heart (1-2). As we see that his reign started out good. He had some enemies come and he listened to the prophet who told him not to team up with Israel and because of that, they won the battle. The only bad thing is, he took the idols of their enemy and began worshiping to it. Instead of destroying or leaving the idols, he takes them and makes them his god. He must have had short term memory or something because it was the True God who allowed them to win over their enemies. It was the True God that warned them not to team up with Israel. 

Not only did Amaziah start worshiping idols, he became very prideful and wanted to team up with Israel. Israel warned small Judah to not be prideful and if they persist they will come against them. Amaziah did not take the warning and they went to fight each other. Israel defeated Judah, Amaziah was captured and Jerusalem was taken by storm and the gold and silver was taken from the treasury. 

Warning:

We can look at this section as steps to not fall. We may think we are walking with the Lord but if our heart is not completely devoted to God we will fall. Amaziah did not fall when the enemy came, it was just when he won. His downfall was pride as it is for many Christians. One test is when trials come (James 1:2), we can see who is wholly devoted to Jesus and those who are not, but another true test of devotion is victories. 

Romans 10:13~ Says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This verse is not talking about just saying Jesus, but it is when one whole hearted turns from their sin and become a slave to Christ, they will be saved. This calling on the name of the Lord is Old Testament language of someone calling on a king with whole hearted devotion to their king. They are stating they will be obedient and follow after their king as long as they live. Many people may say they called on Jesus to be saved except they have not given all of themselves to him. There are areas that they are still holding on. There are areas that they are not willing to stop or deny themselves. Just like Amaziah who won became prideful and that was his problem we need to guard ourselves over Christian victory and see if we are whole hearted to God or not. Trials will come but also the pride so be careful and devote your whole heart to God and not half.