How far will people go to do evil in the eyes of the Lord?  It seems lately that mankind is testing those limits in even greater measures than our ancestors did. Yes, I know our grandparents said the same, but now that I am a grandparent I get what they were saying.  But sin by any measure is still sin.  It seems that some generations have choose to no longer hide or deny, but to justify sin as right and good! 

The view of many in our world think that “everything’s going to be okay and should not be judged as evil but as mere expressions of following our hearts.” World leaders tell us that “the means justifies the end” so just trust them.  We watch as some local leaders have dissolved once healthy city budgets in projects to please rich influencers who they hope will support their own political careers to greater heights and notoriety.  

Some of God’s churches have accepted the lies of worldview thinking while setting aside the commands of God.  Just last night at a family gathering, Randy and I shared a story from our childhood with our kids and grandkids of a preacher in our generation who would not drink cola from a can so others would not think he was drinking a beer!  My Grandma Lacquement, who I loved dearly and respected greatly for her faith, would not allow a newspaper or magazine (hard copy media before tech media, for those who are way younger reading this) to be placed on top of the family Bible on her side table!  She worshiped God and revered His Word.  She didn’t reprimand anyone; she would just quietly remove anything on top of God’s Word that landed there as a habit. We got the message as her grandkids!  The worship of God, with a humbled response of love and service to God, was real and evident in those who raised me to love God above all. I look back and cherish those who loved me and nurtured my faith in God. 

Therefore, our children were raised knowing that we love and serve God. Our grandchildren got the message, too.  But in the world in which they conduct their lives is extremely different than ours in what is acceptable and what is not.  Decisions made are vital and sometimes a matter of life or death.  It seems more is acceptable, even by laws made, even though not always beneficial for us. Paul wrote about this over a meat issue! (Read the whole chapter.)

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”–Paul, teaching the Corinthian church who included old worldly customs into their new belief of Jesus.  1 Corinthians 10:23-24

These words were part of a lesson over eating meats sacrificed with how that looks to those who do not.  Paul explains further; it’s more about but our intimate relationship with God and our reverence for Him. Paul sums up his lesson with;

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 

Hard decisions, no matter what generations we come from, must be made daily declaring who we follow. God helps those who believe, trust in Jesus, and rely on God’s gifts of His power, wisdom, and His ever present strength by His Holy Spirit living in us. A rule of thumb for me is when in doubt, don’t.  First consult with God and wait until you hear from God’s Holy Spirit who guides us to all that Truth with the right steps to take in the right Spirit. Peace comes when the right decision is made with His Holy Sprit’s guidance.  When I “follow my heart” (which is deceitful says Jesus); chaos occurs.  I would rather follow the heart of God in all things.

It makes us wonder then if Barna’s predictions with proof through his church surveys is right— “The church has become more affected by society then affecting society with God’s message of Truth.” George Barna, a prophet for our times, based on real surveys of the American church, also said, “There is no difference in the behaviors of those who say they believe in God that those who say they do not.”  (The State of the Church, George Barna)  I highly recommend reading this for all church leaders!

A look back—

That godly King Hezekiah should have such a wicked son is another one of those puzzles in biblical history. Manasseh lived a most ungodly life and yet had the longest reign of any king in Jewish history. It was as though the Lord took His hand off the nation and allowed all the filth to pour out of people’s hearts. 

Could this be happening in our generation?  The Lord God is allowing evil to do all that evil does in order to expose the Enemy for who he really is as the Deceiver of all when Jesus comes back? 

My question for us today is—why wait?  Follow Jesus now! He is everything we need!

2 Kings 21

Manasseh King of Judah

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. ² He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ³ He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. ⁴ He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” ⁵ In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶ He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

⁷ He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. ⁸ I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.” ⁹ But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

¹⁰ The Lord said through his servants the prophets: ¹¹ “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. ¹² Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. ¹³ I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. ¹⁴ I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; ¹⁵ they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”

¹⁶ Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

¹⁷ As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ¹⁸ Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

Amon King of Judah

¹⁹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. ²⁰ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. ²¹ He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. ²² He forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him.

²³ Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. ²⁴ Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

²⁵ As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁶ He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

How would it be to be known as the one most wicked in the eyes of God? Yikes!

Apparently, the miracles during the reign of Hezekiah made little impression on Manasseh’s heart. Remarkably, Manasseh became the most wicked king in Judah’s history, so much so that he is blamed for the fall of the southern kingdom!

We don’t know which prophets delivered this message, but nobody could misunderstand what they said. If Manasseh and the people didn’t repent and turn from their evil ways, God would send judgment so severe that just “hearing about it would make their ears tingle.” (Verse 12)

How will we be remembered?  What would the One who sees and knows our hearts write about us?

No matter how blatant evil becomes with nothing held back or hidden—God has not given up His authority. God knows and is in control even when we don’t see or feel it. Jesus will come back again.  God wins in the end. (I read ahead!)

Come back to God. Love Him completely with nothing held back. Take His Word as Truth for our good that declares His glory.  Believe that Jesus did exactly what God told Him to be and do—Seek and save the lost without God.  Jesus laid down His life for ours, once and for all, to remove our sins.  Receive this precious forever gift of salvation through repentance of all sins in the Name of Jesus who is our King of kings and Lord of lords. Surrender to God daily while enjoying a growing, intimately loving relationship with God who created each one of us with purpose. His Peace comes to those who truly believe. He promised and God always does what He says!

Lord,

Thank you again for another lesson from Your story of wisdom that gives us clarity and correction in our thinking and behaving. We find ourselves in your story of redemption just like you planned from the beginning!  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with the beauty of truth, and restore the joy of you in us and us in you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen