UNEQUALLY YOKED
Monday, January 13, 2003
Dear family:
The war on terrorism is approaching the end of its second year and the economy is still stuck in the mud. For some of us these times have been more trying than for others and for the country as a whole it has been very costly times.
I wrote you during the time when we were struggling with the definition of "is" that the country was losing touch with God. Today as I meditate in the story of Jehoshaphat I am once again reminded how costly it is to fail to remain faithful to God's principles.
IKing 22:42-53
42) Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43) And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.
44) Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.
45) Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he showed and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
46) And the remnant of the sodomites who remained in the days of his father Asa, he expelled from the land.
47) Now there was no king in Edom; a deputy was king.
48) Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
49) Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat was not willing.
50) And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.
51) Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.
52) And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.
53) So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger according to all that his father had done. (NAS)
Jehoshaphat was a good man and a good king. He followed in the steps of his father, Asa, being faithful to God. Notice that it is said he did not turn aside from doing right in the sight of God. Notice it did not say he did what was acceptable to the standards of man nor did it say he did what was acceptable to congress or the legal profession. No, none of these were mentioned, only that he did right in the sight of God.
Too often I hear people say "well everyone else does it", or "this is standard practice". There is another saying that has really affected the building trades. It is, "it is acceptable trade practices". Nowadays it is acceptable trade practices to put 2 nails in a roof or a ceiling joist. Sometimes however, there needs to be a third. Today many homes are made of inferior materials which when exposed to moisture may encourage the growth of mold. While some may live in the home for years without a problem others may die from exposure to it.
I used just a couple of examples here to point out the difference between Gods and mans' standards. A new acquaintance of mine had a thriving business until one day he stepped on a ceiling joist and fell about 20 feet. His injuries caused him to lose his business. Had that joist been nailed with conscientious consideration, that just maybe a third nail would be better, the fall would have been prevented. There is a home in the Austin, Texas area where the family had to move out because the mold was killing them. The father and son have irreversible heath problems as a result. So, is it acceptable to just do it in accordance with acceptable standards? No, not to those whose lives have been affected forever as a result.
There are 2 important things in this story of Jehoshaphat that I think are important for us to consider. They are in verses 43 & 44 and start with the word however.
43) And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD. However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.
44) Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.
The false worship practices were not abolished, and he made peace with the king of Israel. Sometimes it is not the big obvious things that break's God's heart and causes our fellowship with him to be broken. Sometimes, it I as simple as looking the other way when something happens we know is wrong and we don't take a stand and say "it is not right and it is not acceptable to God". The end does not always justify the means. If it is not according to God's principles, it is not right. The standards God established thousands of years ago have not changed. His plan for the ages was and is designed to bring all of mankind into a close fellowship with him. The fringe benefit to mankind is a more civil society. When we permit those in leadership to establish laws which protect or make the standards less than God requires, we place our relationship with him in jeopardy. It is not good enough for Christians to sit on the sidelines as observers. We must be proactive when it comes to who we put in office and what we permit them to do. We may not be able to stop it all or change it all but it is our God given responsibility to stand up and speak out. Today we are in the middle of a technology revolution where God is showing us every conceivable exciting treasure in the universe. When I consider what my father and stepfather never saw which we see and accept as norm today, it is hard to imagine that only 50 years ago, I lived in a home without running water, in door toilet or telephone. These treasures have been locked up here forever; we have just learned how to unlock them. I am both excited and fearful for my grandchildren. The things they will see in their life-time are beyond my imagination. It is so important that we leave behind some stone alters like the one the children of Israel built after they crossed over the Jordan river, to remind all future generations who God is and what he has done with mankind through the years.
Notice the consequences of not upholding God's standards.
48) Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
Ships of Tarshish were the best ships in the world. Remember this is the land where Jonah went to preach against his wishes but the results were the conversion of an entire land. Also notice Ezion-gerber. This is the location where God parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel to escape from the Egyptians. Yet, these very best ships in this great location sit broken. Why? Not because of anything Jehoshaphat had done but what he did not do and what he tolerated.
I am going to stop here and leave the rest of the story to you. This is your story and my story, it is personal. Part II
Love ya
Dad, Dad2, Mr T and Chuck
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