The Real Meaning of Life

https://biblehub.com/nkjv/2_chronicles/22.htm

Once again, as we read the Book of Chronicles, we see that it covers much of the same ground as the Book of Kings. I won’t say it is a summary, but the information is presented differently. There may be more or less details added to Chronicles, kind of like the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Specifically, we review the acts of Athaliah, the wicked grandmother who stole the throne, and the remaining heir to the throne, Joash, who was hidden as a child so Athaliah could not kill him also. Then when Joash was just seven years old, they appointed him King, dethroning Athaliah behind her back. And in the violent times that were, she was taken out and killed. And perhaps it wasn’t violent as much as it was rendering justice and executing the death penalty. I’ll leave that to the readers discretion. No doubt God looked on and shook His head at the entire fiasco. He neither caused it nor approved of it, He once again gave His children freewill to act as they wanted, and they had distanced themselves from Him, and there was nothing He could do to change things except hope they read the books of Moses and the law, and returned to Him. But so far, they haven’t.

We also read about wars and more wars as Syria rose up against Israel once again. It’s funny that we talk about peace in the Middle East when there hasn’t been peace since the days of Ishmael and Esau. And according to the prophesy of God, I do not feel confident there will ever be peace. There will always be countries trying to take away the land and inheritance that God gave the children of Israel.

One thing that struck me about these chapters, and I like to think God impressed this on me, was the heading of one of the sections talked about the “apostacy” of Joash. Scripture says that for the most part, Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet he still didn’t take down the “high places” where they worshiped other gods. No kind is perfect, not even King David, and that’s because no one is perfect and ever will be.

What is apostacy? Merriam defines it as “1. Abandonment of one’s religious faith, a political party, one’s principles, or a cause, or 2. An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; a total desertion of departure from one’s faith, principles, or party; esp., the renunciation of a religious faith.”

Here is my opinion, and strictly my opinion. But apostacy doesn’t always mean you “abandon” your faith. Yes, if you totally give up on religion and give up worshiping God and following Jesus, that is apostacy. But in my mind, apostacy can even mean being “lukewarm” when it comes to religion.

Perhaps you attend church every week. You’re faithful, never miss a service, but you never crack open a Bible, you never listen to Christian music, you never listen to an online sermon, you have nothing to do with religion except for those few hours at church once a week. To me, that is also apostacy.

Or perhaps you go through the motions, church once a week, Wednesday night church service, Friday night prayer meeting, and you might even once a week, read a few chapters of the Bible, but other than that, you don’t think about God very often or talk with Him, all you do are simply appointments on the calendar, like getting your hair or nails done. That too, is apostacy.

The reason I bring this up is because despite the motions we go through, we can still become apostate if our hearts are not truly set on having a personal relationship with God. It’s something you want to have, like wanting the companionship of someone, like a spouse. Few want to go through life alone here on earth, but have no problems being spiritually alone when it comes to God. And Jesus said, as we will study in the future, “many will call My name, but I will say…I don’t know you.” (paraphrasing of course). That means when Jesus comes, people that think they have done everything right, going to church religiously, calling themselves Christian, maybe even being an elder or deacon in the church, but if their heart isn’t in it, if they truly do not have a personal relationship, they might be apostate.

I might be totally wrong here, but I’ve even gotten to the point where I often pray without the “Dear God” and “Amen” formalities, just as if He was in the room with me (which He is), and I’m talking with Him like a friend. Of course there is time for being reverent where you want to formally address God and have good manners in communication, but I see nothing wrong with simply having a conversation with Him. I’ve even heard pastors who say it is okay to be totally open and honest with God, to let Him know when you’re angry about something you prayed about, but perhaps God didn’t answer. As long as it is done with respect and with love, just as you would openly communicate with your spouse, I think God wants that relationship with us.

Remember the conversations God had with Adam after the fall, and with Cain after he slew Abel? Those weren’t formal conversations, they were like conversations you would have with your best friend.

It okay to have Jesus as a friend. Keep Him in your life to avoid falling into apostacy.