2 Chronicles 24

“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (NKJV)

When I was 17 years old, I packed up my ’72 Chevelle convertible, drove out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and headed for college.  Those post-high school years are so refreshing because you finally get the chance to put all of your theories of life to the test.  That season reminds me of the bumper sticker that reads, “Hire a college student while they still know everything!” Yes, happiness was Ft Smith in my rearview mirror, and I was ready for a fresh start.  I wish I had been more pious as a kid, but I pretty much stopped going to church during my first year of college.  Seriously, up to that point, I had really just gone to church because my parents made me.

If you can relate to that story, you can understand what was going on in Joash’s head once Jehoiada, the priest, died.  

“But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.  Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king.  And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, ‘Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper?  Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, ‘The Lord look on it, and repay!’” 2 Chronicles 24:15-22 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we find an important lesson for the Church today.  You can mandate that people act like fully devoted disciples of Jesus, but how will they act when nobody is looking?  (Of course, God is always watching.)  

What happens when the charismatic authority figure is removed from the scene?   More importantly, what is the difference between acting like a disciple and being a real one?  It is the same difference between your reputation and your character.  Your reputation is the side of you that everyone sees, but your character is the side of you that only God may see.  Keep seeking Him in His Word, determined to live as He requires, and share His Word with others so they can live for Jesus, too!