2nd Chronicles 16 LEST HE FALL A good beginning in the Christian life does not guarantee a good end. Asa started out his reign doing those things that were right. He continued through much of his reign with a heart for God and doing that which pleased God. But whatever happened, he fell to the place where he became a cynical, bitter, sick old man by the time he died. Faith in God has a power of its own because one does not trust themselves or other people to bring the desired result to a matter. It is not wrong to use human expertise and strength in a work for the Lord, but we must always realize it is God who bring a successful conclusion to a matter even though it maybe long after we are gone. "It is God that worketh in you..."
Truth mixed with error resents the clear testimony of unvarnished truth. When truth is acted upon there is a liberating power that comes from God because it is not tainted with man's sin. The evidence of truth in practice is not a complicated set of rules of a protocol set up by humans, but a simple understandable practice of righteousness that makes sense and is logical. When error arises, it is right to resist it and act to correct it. We should not allow the "leaven" of error to permeate the whole of Christian testimony. However, to react to error in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons, brings consequences that usually are costly.
To use that which belongs to God for wrong reasons is a denial of the faith we profess to uphold. To look to the world system as a way to deal with God's people is a denial of divine authority to which we are to submit. It was wrong for Baasha, ruler of the northern tribes to make a barrier between the north and south to keep the people from going back and forth, and it was wrong for Asa to hire the Syrians to go to war for the southern tribes. Even through there are differences, they were still kinfolks. God had delivered His people from their enemies many times before and He could have done what was needed then. Perhaps Asa didn't want to be responsible for leading a war against those who had a common heritage.
Similarly, not everything that says it is "Christian" is truly Christian. "Christian music" is not always that which edifies. "Christian conduct" is not always a reflection of biblical truth and practice. "Christian churches" may be simply denominational organizations. The "Christian religion" may only be a contrast to atheism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or any other form of religious persuasion. True Christianity is characterized by love for our Lord Jesus Christ, a knowledge of God, faith in God, accepting the fact that the Bible is God's word, faith as a practice in life and commitment to our Lord as personal Savior.
Human solutions alone to the difficulties that arise in personal and church life - life in general for that matter - reveal the condition of one's heart and soul. If ardor for God cools and faith in the daily practice of life is neglected, we know we are away from the Lord. A Christian away from God who refuses to confess and forsake sin, is in danger of being left alone without God's help in the hard times. If we think we can handle everything ourselves or can get the help we need only from people without divine assistance and power, we are mistaken. We always need God.
It is sin to trust men more than God. It is not necessarily wrong to look for help from wise counselors when problems arise because in "the multitude of counselors there is safety." Also, in "the multitude of counselors," purposes are established. But our need of God will ultimately bring either defeat, or a result that is so inferior to the divine intention that it will not bring lasting good.
For the prophet Hanani to face the king and rebuke him for "trusting in man" instead of God, took a lot of courage and landed him in prison. But he was responsible to tell him the consequences of his foolish actions, and that there would no longer be peace in the nation, but war. Even those Syrians he paid to fight Israel for him would turn against him. The outcome of a matter may seem to be successful even when we take matters into our own hands. However, the final results may be much more serious than we ever thought or imagined.
Just because a work in which we are engaged may be successful, doesn't make it right. A lost opportunity can never be found again. More than once in the scriptures we are reminded of those who despised and rejected God's messengers and nothing bad happened at the moment. Herod took John the Baptist's head off and seemed to get away with it. But when he finally met Jesus who he had wanted to see for a long time and see a miracle done before his eyes, Jesus did not speak one word to him. "No John? No Jesus!"
When in anger Asa imprisoned Hanani the prophet. that never changed the prophecy one bit. The spite, anger and bitterness of Asa simply revealed a deteriorating character in the man that grew increasingly worse in his old age. It is possible for us to lose our testimony, our reputation and our credibility very quickly. How sad it would be to lose our effectiveness as a representative of our Lord in old age and die that way. It is true that corrective teaching needs to be made with compassion and grace and given in love for those who hear. To give a message from God in the right way and have it received in the right way brings right results.
What a lesson it is for us to "take heed" to that which happens to us and to others "lest we fall." A potential fall is waiting when we least expect it. When we think we can do God's work our way or any way at all, we are in danger of a fall. When pride lifts up its head, a fall is bound to happen. When something arises in our life that is beyond our capability to deal with, and we seek only the help of men and ignore God, a fall will happen. Others could not help Asa when his feet became diseased. Still he did not seek the Lord and had to endure pain until he died a sick old man, away from God. Men honored him at his burial with a great fire that must have been impressive, but it didn't change the fact that in his old age he fell from faith and favor with God.