The Valley of Elah from Azekah. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

I was reading 2 Chronicles 14 today at lunch, and verses 14:1-7 struck me.  Asa is the king of Judah and does what is right in God’s sight.  Asa worked to remove idols and foreign altars from the land, and the land was undisturbed, meaning he was not at war.  So, what did he do?  Did he rest?  Did he brag like the rich, retired man in Luke 12:16-21 who took his rest and died that night unprepared to meet the Lord?

NO.  Instead, he built fortified cities.  He said, ‘”The land is still ours because we have sought the Lord God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.”  So they built and prospered.’ (2 Ch 14:7)  Asa here is a great example for us to continue building, fortifying, and growing; to take full advantage of the rest periods; and to always prepare for bad physical or spiritual times–an invasion.

Sin is the invader in the Christian’s life; the devil, too.  Just when we think things are going well and we’re having victories over them, watch out!  It’s then we can become lax and susceptible to attack and invasion.  Are things going well?  Have you sought the Lord and been given rest?  Then keep growing, fortifying, progressing, watching, praying, building the kingdom, and being disciplined in the Lord, all the while thanking and praising Him for the rest you’re enjoying.

Pastor Wyatt