Saving Me from Myself

Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. 2 Chronicles 24:17-18

Growing up, I recognized that there were a lot of things that my faith said I wasn’t supposed to do. I also recognized that these were the exact things that I wanted to do. I saw God – and I suppose my parents too – as standing in the way of that fun. Being a Christian meant embracing the boring life here on Earth so that I could enjoy the afterlife. Once I realized the loophole of forgiveness however, I recognized that I could do whatever I wanted today and then ask forgiveness tomorrow. Later, only after discovering the pain and misery of going my way, did I begin to see that God wasn’t trying to wreck my fun. Rather, he was trying to save me from myself.

I see some of my story in Joash from today’s passage. Joash became king at the age of seven and had the steady, guiding hand of Jehoiada the priest to lead him. Under Jehoiada’s guidance, Joash led his people is a massive repentance, turning from idols and rebuilding God’s temple. When Jehoiada died though, Joash lost his guide and the voice of the world came calling. Joash liked the sound of the world and he abandoned God, returning to idol worship. Prophets were sent to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. He wanted what he wanted, and he wasn’t going to let God stop him. He failed to see that God was trying to save him from himself.

Like a lot of life lessons, this isn’t a once-and-done lesson. God is still trying to save me from myself because I still have a self-destructive appetite. If I follow it, I will injure myself and those I love most. Daily then, if I want to avoid the pain and misery of my way, I must recognize that God truly desires what’s best for me. Daily then, I must abandon my way and follow God, so that he may continue to save me from myself.