"After Rehobaom's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD."

II Chronicles 12:1, NIV 

 

Why do men do what King Rehoboam and Israel did? They had become strong. They were established. Yet they still abandoned the law of God!

 

You see this type of behavior all the time. A couple will get married - often with nothing more than love and hope - but they will not only survive, they will thrive! At first they are determined to keep Christ as their Lord and God as their Master, and for that while things go great. They might struggle at first, but they are on the right track. They go to worship, they read their Bibles, they even pray before mealtimes.

 

But then something happens - we'll call it success - but they begin to slowly drift away from God. The very One they relied on to just to get by each day now receives less and less of their attention. The careers are going well. They have a nice home and two nice cars. The kids are going to nice colleges. Their retirement funds are growing. They have established themselves. They are strong... yet they still abandon the law of God!

 

Why?

 

I guess it is human nature. We do in fact become established and strong - but it is not by our own genius - it is because we relied upon God. Then, when established and strong, it is common for men and women to forget Who made them that way, and they become proud. They don't need to rely so much on their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, after all, what has He ever done for them? They don't need to rely on God, after all, hasn't society decided that He really doesn't matter anymore?

 

So they sto praying. They stop reading their Bibles. They only go to "church" on Easter and Christmas. By doing so, they save "their" money for things like their nice home and cars and colleges and retirement accounts.

 

They have arrived! They are dumb, fat and happy - the American dream! But they are not truly happy, because they have abandoned the law of the LORD.

 

Why do men do that?

 

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

I Chronicles 28:9, NIV

 

Today is day 27 of the 30 day challenge to read through the books of the champions and the kings, with II Chronicles 9-15 being the reading for today. May God richly bless your efforts to seek His will and to remain faithful to His laws all the days of your life!