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I am one of those people who love the Old Testament. It isn’t that I don’t enjoy and also love the New Testament – but there is something about reading the Bible in its entirety that helps paint the picture of who we are as mankind and why we needed Jesus to come and save us.

Over the years I have heard many people within the church try and discount the Old Testament and its relevance to us today. That surprises me and almost makes me question whether or not they have actually spent much time reading and studying it. Why? For starters, which of us can’t relate to the countless “nobody’s” that God uses to bring about His plans? Which of us can’t relate to knowing what we should do, but choosing to rebel and do our own thing? Which of us has made life choices that we not only later regret – but also feel the impact of the consequences stemming from it? So much of the Old Testament seems to be written to a people who are called to live differently – being holy and set apart – in a time of constant evil and temptation. Can you relate?

I know I am just scratching the surface here… but the truth is, as I read from the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles this morning, I was reminded again of how ridiculously lame we are as God-followers, and how little it takes for us to move from a place of obedience and “rightness” with God into a place of evil and denial of him.

Solomon, the son of King David who was chosen by his earthly father and Heavenly Father to succeed his dad’s rule over Israel is a perfect example of this. King Solomon is in one chapter seeking God and asking only for God to lead him, grant him a wise and discerning heart as he attempts to rule God’s people. Solomon is so sold out for God at this point of his life that he is building and dedicating a Temple to the LORD. He is speaking to God and he is hearing from God. We catch a glimpse of Solomon’s heart toward God in the sixth chapter of Chronicles, “He prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.” (v.14)

There is no god like the One True God. Solomon knew it.

I love chapter six because in that time of dedication, Solomon was asking God to not only hear his prayers and the prayers of the Israelites, but he was also asking God to hear the prayers that foreigners – those who are not of Jewish heritage – but seek God with all their hearts would also be heard and answered by this God. “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands when they hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your people of Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.” (v. 32-33) “O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place.” (v. 40)

Doesn’t it sound as if Solomon is close to the LORD at this point? Yes! I believe he is seeking God – not only for himself but for a restoration of mankind to the Creator. And God is pleased. God does not remain silent to the king’s request. God responds by filling the Temple with his presence. God also responds to Solomon as recorded in chapter 7, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy – a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.” (v. 14-16)

What a beautiful exchange! What an amazing interaction between God’s anointed leader and himself. If only that was the way Solomon remained – but he doesn’t. He does what God has warned him not to do. He surrounds himself with idol-worshiping people. He marries women who worship idols. He surrounds himself with culture – not God’s culture – but secular culture. His passion for holiness and godliness fade. He no longer wholeheartedly serves the LORD but treats God as if he is one of many gods to serve.

It seems important to notice that Solomon does not completely walk away from God. Rather he becomes passive towards him. Offerings are still being made to God. The Temple is still functioning and being funded largely by this king, however, his heart is elsewhere. His passion is gone. King Solomon is just going through the motions.

Friend, we need to be so careful when we read accounts like this. Isn’t this the story for so many people within the church? For many, we meet Jesus and we are changed. We are transformed from our brokenness and sinful nature, but in relatively little time, we move from being passionate about our Savior to being passive about him. We surround ourselves with a culture that doesn’t align with God’s plan and we slowly begin to morph into what we are surrounding ourselves with!

Friend, we cannot be so naive, can we? We cannot believe that by repeating the same evil patterns of behavior we might somehow have a different result, do we? Intellectually, I am certain this is evident – and yet… don’t our actions somehow appear that we are that dumb?

God’s word matters. God’s directions hold purpose. He is not trying to enslave us, but on the contrary, it is through obedience to him that we find freedom!

Perhaps one of the most eye-opening verses in my reading this morning was what was written about Solomon’s son and successor, Rehoboam. Like his father, Rehoboam started strong in his obedience to God. And like his father, he didn’t stay there. To his credit, Rehoboam is accounted as having humbled himself before God at one point, and God did respond to his humility. With that said, the words in verse 14 are words of conviction: “But he was an evil king, for he did not seek the LORD with all his heart.” (2 Chronicles 12:14)

What made Rehoboam an evil king? He did not seek the LORD with all his heart.

Doesn’t this eliminate the question of why Jesus had to come? Doesn’t this clearly paint a picture of our evil hearts, too? I mean, I love the LORD. I do. But can I say that I seek the LORD with all my heart? All my life? As much as I would love to think so – I know I don’t. I know I am evil. Selfish. Broken. At times I choose my ways over God’s ways. At times I may even become so enchanted with the culture and surround myself with things that pull me out of God’s plan for me (idols). I begin to look less and less “set apart,” or “holy” and more like everyone around me – regardless of their faith and belief in the Creator.

Friend, I don’t want to live this way. I don’t want to break the heart of my God. I don’t want to waste what he has given me – or reconfigure myself from the person that he designed me to be. I want to be His. I want to stay the course – live in pursuit of my God and his righteousness, mercy, truth, and love all of my days. I want to finish strong.

Maybe you do too?

So how do we do this? Read God’s word. Study it. All of it. We need to ask God for wisdom and discerning hearts. We need to speak to God and seek his help and guidance in all areas of our lives. We need to surround ourselves with truth and with people who follow our LORD and not the false gods of our culture. We must look to God to fill all of our needs and desires – not mankind and not material possessions. We must desire God’s approval – and care less about social approval. We should be grounded in the absolute truth that exists and is found only in God, and not conform to counterfeit truths of emotion and experiences offered in its place by man. We must accept the greatest gift we have ever been offered – salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

We have a map. All we need to do is follow it. It is the only thing that will keep us from making a quick shift.

Blessings!