Friday, April 7, 2017

Raw Food Goes Bad, But Prepared Food Is Always Good

“And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.” (2Ch 12:14 AV)

When we use the word prepared, we think of something that is done quite a bit.  Such as, mom prepared dinner.  We think of it as a temporary state that has to be repeated because once the dinner is eaten, the mom has to prepare another one tomorrow.  However, that is not what that word means.  It means to establish something to an enduring and permanent state.  For example, when Mom has prepared a roast for dinner, it cannot become a turkey.  When it is fully prepared, it cannot become unprepared.  The roast cannot go back to its raw state.  The prepared Sunday roast cannot become Saturday’s hot dogs.  Prepared is a permanent state that happened in the past.  It cannot be undone.  Once it is established, then it cannot go back.

In our text, the king did evil because he had not determined that his heart be permanently oriented towards the LORD.  Not something that had to be decided on a daily or moment by moment thing, but rather, a permanent habit of life.  The king had to do this.  He was asked to make decisions on a regular basis.  That was the very purpose of his life.  To lead and make decisions.  Therefore, his heart must be established to seek the LORD.

Sadly, we suffer from the same weakness today.  God is not the God of Sundays and Wednesday only.  God is not the God of trials and temptations only.  God is not the God that shows up only when we listen to our favorite sermon or song.  God is not the God that only shows up at church.  God is not the God that comes and goes in a spontaneous basis.  He is ever-present.  Our churches and pews are shallow today because we have compartmentalized God.  God is a relationship.  Not something that we do.  When and if we ever establish our hearts to be always God conscience, seeking His presence and guidance, will we ever overcome the sin that rules our lives.  God is not a part of our lives.  He should be the very definition of it!

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