2 Chronicles 25

“Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Therefore the anger of the Lord was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, ‘Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?’ So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, ‘Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?’ Then the prophet ceased, and said, ‘I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.’” 2 Chronicles 25:14-16 (NKJV)

Smoking is a terrible habit. Not only is it expensive, but it always leads to lung damage, hastening the demise of its victims. Sure, smoking looks cool, everything from how a person holds a cigarette, clips off the tip of a cigar, or lights a pipe, slowly dragging and releasing the smoke. But imagine feeling like you are drowning, 24/7, unable to get a full breath of air. No, not for me.  

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to watch those TV commercials where people who’ve had their voice boxes removed (because of lung cancer surgery) are talking through those vibrating devices pressed against their throats? And what is their message? “THIS is where smoking leads!”  I feel sad to see kids smoking, and I wonder if they have ever considered that “cool” can have tragic consequences.  

Want to know what really confuses me? Every time I visit a hospital, I see nurses and doctors standing outside, smoking!   I can understand kids or foreigners (whose culture may be void of lung cancer awareness), but healthcare professionals?? Unbelievable, and yet, there it is. It is precisely how we feel when we read about a king of Judah who heeds a prophet’s warning to rid his army of idolatrous Israelites, sets out on a quasi-righteous battle against idolatrous Gentiles, yet secretly practices idolatry himself! And it sickens us to the point where we ask, HOW CAN THIS BE? God is showing us what happens to a king (or anyone for that matter) who “kind-of” follows Him, whose devotion is half-hearted.

“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart.” 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 (NKJV)

Just as the man who unwraps a new pack of cigarettes glances at the “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer…” warning, then jokes to his friend, “These things will kill you,” before he sparks up, so many people read the Bible with the same attitude toward sin. There are two things that confound a fool: How slow God is to judge and how quickly He shows up! Learn Amaziah’s lesson, but not how Amaziah learned it. Learn it in the manner God intends for you to learn so that you will seek His Word and obey it wholeheartedly.