We need to stay under the right influence.
There’s a very intriguing episode in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Unlike their northern neighbours, their run of kings was not all those who displeased God. There were a few who were said to be pleasing to God, almost at a similar level to King David's standard.
One in particular, however, was called Joash. In 2 Chronicles 23 and 24, we’re given an overview of his run. A run that started in response to a despotic queen who looked to take the rule for herself. Yet, thanks to a faithful priest of God, the right rule was restored as Joash started ruling at the tender age of seven. That priest, Jehoiada, was hugely influential in the early part of Joash’s rule. This influence was seen through religious reforms, including the repair of the temple. It was a period that saw the people of Judah encouraged to return to the God of their ancestors. God of King David – God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was going so well … as long as Jehoiada was there to give his godly influence.
Tragically, we’re told that as soon as the priest died, other forces came to influence Joash. They undid all the work that Jehoiada had initially encouraged Joash to do. Such was the reversal of the reforms, and such was the change in Joash’s attitude to what was right in God’s sight that when Jehoiada’s son spoke on behalf of God, Joash instructed his mentor’s son to be stoned to death.
This was a tragic turn of events not just for the king but for the kingdom. In the same way that his religious reforms promoted a return to God, the reversal led this people down a path away from God. The lack of godly influence had a significant impact on the people's destiny.
There is the wonder of the gospel. There is the cost of discipleship.
Jesus cares about the troubles and traumas we endure, the pain and sorrow, the rejections and betrayals. He cares, and He comes to address them.
How He addresses them, though, is not with an appeal to make things better. He states that the way to go is the way of change. It’s a seismic change as well. He is not here to make life better or to improve your lot. He’s here with the call to a new life. Jesus knows that the way to grow requires something brand new.
Jesus understands that what we need is not just reform. What will work is not just an external level of influence. We need change on the inside that takes out the old and brings in the holy. This is the beauty of the gospel: once we trust Him, He gives us help on the inside. He gives us the influence on the inside to work out whether we receive godly influence or not.
I think of an operating system. I think of it as the basis by which all things on the device function. The gospel does not look to get an upgrade on the operating system. The gospel says we need a whole new operating system. Some don’t like the binary nature of following Jesus, but He doesn’t allow a spectrum of options. We can operate on the system we were on before – based on self and sin. Or we can operate on the system Jesus Christ offers us – a system based on the Spirit.
This war for the believer is to keep going and grow in the new that happens because of Jesus Christ. The Spirit is opposed to the flesh. The Spirit is not supporting the self. The Spirit is not here for reforming; it’s here to remind us of the new that’s here—new appetites, focus, and direction based on a new operating system.
For His Name's Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
