Do you spend much time reading in the Old Testament? I’ve been reading about the kings following King David and it has been fascinating. Some of them are vile, evil people who thrive on getting as far away from the things of God and God Himself and the results are always the same. God takes His favor off of Israel and Judah when their kings rebel. That isn’t to say God moves away. God is always present; however, He isn’t always active.
For those who serve God faithfully and “do right in the eyes of the Lord” as you read in the Old Testament, the favor of the Lord remains with them and the protection of the Lord is always present. Even when common sense would tell you Israel or Judah should lose, they don’t, because God goes before them fighting their battles [2 Chronicles 20:15].
It all seems so simple, yet we make it so difficult. 2 Chronicles 27:6 says “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.” Then you drop to 2 Chronicles 31:21 and read of King Hezekiah “In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” Verses like these are splashed throughout the Old Testament. The bottom line is when you do things God’s way, He is with you and you reap the benefits of His strength, His provisions, and His knowledge. When you do things apart from God, the wheels fall off the bus.
John 15:5 states it best. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Apart from Jesus and His way of doing things, we will fail. It may seem like we’ve succeeded in the eyes of the world, but eventually, the truth will prevail and everyone will recognize our plight.
Who are you walking with today, the world or Jesus? There is no gray area here. You cannot be divided. It is all or nothing. You’re either walking with Jesus or you’re not. He never leaves us nor forsakes us, as He promises throughout Scripture; however, our God is a gentleman [Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5]. He will not force His ways upon us. If we chose not to walk with Him, He will allow us to walk in destruction. The choice is ours [Joshua 24:15]. What will you choose today?