Title: If Only I Could Be Consistent Until the Last Moment
God wants to teach us that if we live a day well, a month could be ok, a year could be good, and furthermore, our entire life could be regarded good and fruitful in the eyes of God. Therefore, we should live a day well because how we live today will determine whether we will go for the eternal life or eternal punishment.
Pro 27:1 suggests that we should live today as the last day of our life. Gen 5:21-22 tells us that Enoch who showed an example of the blessing of transfiguration also lived with the end time conscience. 2 Kgs 14 and onward records about King Amaziah whom we want to look into deeply.
- Amaziah began well
Amaziah is the 9th king of Southern Judah. He became king at his age of 25 and reigned for 29 years. The Bible says that he began his kingship well with strong and firm faith in the beginning (2 Kgs 14:3; 2 Kgs 14:5).
- Amaziah followed the way of Joash
The Bible says that Amaziah followed the way of Joash (2 Kgs 14:3). Let’s compare the life of Joash and the life of Amaziah.
- The life of Joash
Joash is the 8th king in Southern Judah, the father of Amaziah. He became king at his age of 7 and reigned for 40 years. As he became king when he was very young, High Priest Jehoiada was around and helped him (2 Chr 24:1-2; 2 Chr 24:14).
However, when Jehoiada passed away, other servants who didn’t like the high priest came and advised Joash to worship idols (2 Chr 24:17-18).
God sent Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada to give Joash a warning that he should stop and repent from worshipping idols. However, Joash went even more evil and killed Zechariah (2 Chr 24:20-21). As a result, God brought the Arameans to punish Southern Judah. Joash was hugely defeated and wounded. Furthermore, he was killed by his own servants (2 Chr 24:24-25). As we can see, the beginning of Joash was good but his end was bad.
- The life of Amaziah
As we have seen before, Joash was good in the sight of the Lord. But, he brought the idols after conquering the Edomites (2 Chr 25:14). So, God sent His prophet to Amaziah but he also didn’t listen to the prophet (2 Chr 25:16). So, God brought Northern Israel, Joash to punish Southern Judah. Amaziah was defeated and the 400 cubits of the wall of the city were torn down (2 Chr 25:23). Finally, Joash was killed by his own servants too (2 Chr 25:27-28).
When the Bible says that Amaziah followed the way of Joash, it means there are a lot of similarities in the life of Amaziah and Joash. It means Amaziah could have learned from the father, Joash’s case, if he leaves God and worship idols, his end will not be good, but he didn’t learn the lesson.
- Amaziah didn’t repent
Among all the wrongdoings, what is the fundamental reason and cause for Amaziah encountering the bad end? It is idol worshipping. What is the result of idol worshipping? The wall of the city was torn down.
What is idol worshipping today? It is greed. When we put anything before and prior to God, that is greed. If we love money more than God, if we love our family more than God, if we love ourselves more than God, that is all greed and idol worshipping in the eyes of God (Col 3:5).
What is the purpose of the wall and the city? It signifies God’s protection and sanctification (Psa 31:2; Ezek 42:20).
Therefore, when greed comes into our heart, our protection will be lifted up and the holiness will be taken away.
The Bible says that if we touch the holy thing, we will become holy. But if we touch unclean things, we become unclean. (Lev 6:18; Exo 29:37; Lev 22:5-6).
Amaziah was given a chance to listen to the Word of God which is holy. He should have welcomed God’s prophet and His word. Then, he could have stopped from following the way of Joash and returned.
There are things that God claimed it is holy. The Bible is holy, the Lord’s Day is holy, the furniture and tools that are used in the sanctuary are holy, and the Holy Spirit is holy.
We need to read the Holy Bible and be led by the Holy Spirit. We need to come to the church and have fellowship with the holy saints.
As we all began Year 2021 with great ambition and plan, we pray that may we fix our ways to God’s way and conclude it well. So, we may become the people who began and end Year 2021 good, fruitful and faithful in the eyes of the God.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 