What do you feel when you look at the picture above? I felt intense sadness and a sense of waste. I noticed the storm clouds approaching. It made me think of how the old plane was about to be further battered by the winds and rain that were headed it's way, even though there was a time when this same plane was able to soar safely above the storms. How sad! My reading today led me to the second book of the Chronicles of the Kings. Specifically, to the 14th, 15th and 16th chapters where I found the story of King Asa. His story can be summed up in the picture of this once powerful plane.
Asa became King of Judah at quite a young age as shown by his grandmother Maachah being Queen. Abijah, his father had only reigned for 3 years, but he had managed with God's help to defeat Judah's enemies and achieve a lasting peace for his people. Thus the young king Asa inherited a peaceful kingdom. He used this peace to do some much needed "house cleaning". In 14:3 it tells how Asa "removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles." These "strange gods" had gained a foothold in the lives of the people of Judah and there was all sorts of idolatry being practiced. The people had replaced the one True God with many little gods. Asa quickly put a stop to it. Young as he was, he could see that this idol worship was wrong. In his youthful zeal he wiped out their evil influences, even deposing his grandmother and destroying her idols.
Asa also began preparing his country for the future, adding protective measures against the enemies who were for a time defeated. He told his people that since the Lord had given them peace on every side they should use this time to fortify themselves with walls and towers, gates and bars. A very wise young man wasn't he? And his preparations were not in vain because a vast army from Ethiopia was soon to come against them.
The young king stood with his army of less than 600,000 against the much, much larger force of Ethiopians. However Asa was not afraid. He prayed, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11) Wow!!! His faith was secure, he was fully prepared spiritually and physically for this battle and God rewarded his faith with the victory.
There followed 35 years of peace for the small country of Judah and when the story continues we see an older but not wiser King Asa. He had perhaps become complacent during the quiet years, for now, when his country is again threatened, he is not so filled with faith in the Lord. Instead of going out to meet the threat, confident of the Lord's help, he instead calls on an old alliance for help. Sitting lazily in his palace, Asa relies on others to take care of the enemy for him. Where was the valiant boy king whose faith was once so strong? Furthermore, when the Lord sends a prophet to remind Asa of the victory He had given him 35 years ago against a much larger force, the angry King has the Seer put in prison!
Well, now you probably see why I felt the picture above was a good representation of what I had read this morning. From flying high above the storms of life, secure in his faith, Asa had become an ungrateful derelict of a king, rotting in the dirt. How did he get this way? In the same way the plane did maybe, his life was no longer in service to God. He no longer had daily maintenance (daily prayer, daily scripture, daily thoughts of God's work in his life). He could no more "fly" than the derelict hulk in the picture could. It is a good reminder to us to be sure we do not find ourselves in the same position.
Paul had some good advice for us in Hebrews 12:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
(Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)
When you find yourself growing weary and losing heart, remember the plane in the picture above, remember King Asa, and remember Jesus, "fixing our eyes" on Him so that we can "run with Perseverance the race marked out for us".