Warning Nestled in Encouragement

…keep seeking like  Uzziah.  3.16.12

…and as long as he (Uzziah) sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. II Chronicles 26:5  3.28.12

In the same month two different people used the same Scriptural reference to encourage me to remain steadfast in my pursuit of God’s will.  Coincidence?  I think not.  I am always grateful when someone takes the time to uplift me with the Word; I’m also appreciative when the Word brings warning and/or correction.

Uzziah’s story began well but didn’t end likewise.  King Uzziah did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, except for not removing the high places where the people of Judah sacrificed to false gods (II Kings 15:2-4).  A door was left open to compromise.  The Lord caused Uzziah to triumph in battle; his name spread abroad as he continued to trust in and seek after God.  But, as my pastor says, sin is progressive.  Give the enemy an inch and he’ll take an interstate! 

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. II Chronicles 26:16

Compromise (sin) will take you where you have no business going.  It distorts your thinking…. causing you elevate your reasoning above God’s truth.  Paul advised: through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Uzziah seemed to think that because he excelled while allowing a little sin to exist, adding a little more wouldn’t hurt.  Afterall, he was sacrificing to the one true and living God.  Nevertheless, he wasn’t a priest.  He stepped into a position that God had not called him to.  Because of this he was stricken with leprosy and forced to live in isolation for the rest of his days (see II Chronicles 26:19-21).

It is my sincere and earnest prayer that my life continuously resembles King Uzziah’s earlier years.  The Lord is my strength and shield.  He is the author and finisher of my faith.  His Holy Spirit enables me to live out His will and His blessing empowers me to prosper.  Remove Him from the equation and I am nothing and have nothing.  Apart from Christ, my life would be a chaotic mess.  Pride goes before destruction but those who humble themselves under the mighty hand of God will be exalted in due time (see I Peter 5:6).  My intent is to stick with His perfect way, order, and timing.  Apart from Him, I can do nothing. 

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