New Covenant

I've been reading from II Chronicles lately and several things have stood out to me; I've found them soul searching and refreshing. So, I've decided to write them and share with anyone who's interested...

1.  II Chron. 20:33 "The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their Fathers" 
This same sentence, or some variation thereof appears quite often throughout I & II Kings and I & II Chronicles, usually after the reign of kings who 'did right in the eyes of the LORD'.  I have been noticing how many times  the righteous kings, of which there were very few, one after another would tear down the Ashera pole, kill the false prophets, seek God's guidance when going into battle, restore the liturgy of the temple, etc. Sadly, after each successful reign, it's followed with 'but they did not tear down the high places'...the 'high places' being those sacred groves or other areas that were used in the worship of false gods.   The reason scripture gives is their hearts were not set upon God. 

The kings' failure to finally tear down these high places, no matter how closely they followed God in other areas, led to the ultimate ruin and captivation of the nations of Israel and Judah.  (In the study of Scripture, we know God allowed this to happen because the Israelites chose not to follow him and him only; their captivity was His way of offering them true freedom, which can only be found in Him~ which is a topic of discussion for another time!

All that being said, I think of my own heart, my own family.  What 'high places' am I refusing to tear down and completely destroy? Is it possible that as the King and Queen of our families, we as parents and grandparents can affect the future of our children by not being completely obedient to God in every single area of our lives?  Often, when we consider our little 'pet' areas~ those we struggle with compete surrender~ you know that place; it's surrendered, it just takes more of a conscious effort to keep it surrendered, to keep it under the control of the Holy Spirit~ all I consider is the here and now.  I think the Devil tricks us with the lies of 'it's so insignificant', 'it won't hurt anybody'.  Is it?  Won't it?  Is it possible how we handle those 'high places' today could, in fact, effect our families for future generations? 

A concept of great debate has been the punishment of children for the sins of the parents;  34:7
Ex. 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.."
See also Ex. 34:7, Num. 14:18, Deut. 5:9.
What if I took these scriptures at face value?  Would it change the way I live my life?  How?  Now that we have  son,  our family line will continue.....  it definitely causes me to pause a few moments more, consider a little more closely, sacrifice a little more dearly.....
Perhaps you say I should have been living that way all along~ yes, but sometimes circumstances~ like a son or daughter~ cause my eyes be a bit brighter, my mind to open a bit more, my heart to search a bit deeper. 
What legacy am I leaving my children in the small hidden areas of my heart where no one sees, it seems like it is no big deal and doesn't matter to anyone?  Sometimes, the depths of my heart seem to deep and dark for me to explore..it's then I pray "Search me, O God and know my heart (He can handle it when I can't) try me and know my thoughts (He knows what they are before I do) see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me and lead me (and future Sechrestians) in the way which leads to everlasting life!  Ps. 139:23-24

2.  "Nevertheless, because of the covenant  the LORD had made with David (II Sam. 7:11b-ff), the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David...."  II Chron. 21:7  This sentence or some variation is also found in several places throughout the Kings and Chronicles.  Time after time, wicked king after righteous king, etc.  God refused to destroy the house of David for one reason...not because of their exploits, not because of the few righteous kings who came along, but because God had made a COVENANT (maybe I'll do a little searching on the strength of a covenant promise) with David.  God was going to make good on his promise to David, regardless of what his descendants did. 
Which got me to thinking...did God make a covenant with one of my ancestors and is that why I am still alive today....
Then my thoughts turned to the NEW COVENANT Jer. 31:31-34.  This covenant that God made with the house of Israel, through Jesus also includes me!  No longer will human-kinds knowledge of God be dependant on the teachings of a select few (which were called Prophets), because there came a time when God became man and He made himself known to all people.  For 33 short years, we see God walking the earth, loving, teaching, dying.....History records it, Martyrs proclaim it, Christ-followers live it. 
God is not visible to today's world if He is not visible in the lives of those whom call themselves by his name.

Am I making Christ visible to my neighbors?  I was talking with my neighbor a few days ago and she mentioned she wasn't much into Jesus, as she preferred things she could see.....all the apologetic training I've had flew out the window and I said 'I can't see him either, but I've experienced Him'  or something like that.  I want Christ to be visible in my life.  When they see me, they see Jesus. Yep, that means no more me. At all.

3.  II Chron. 19:12b.  "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You"  and that pretty much sums it up!

Thanks for reading.......