There is a story in the Bible about a very godly king. His name is Asa of Judah who ruled for 41 years. He was the great grandson of Solomon and would have ruled about 22 years after the death of Solomon. Scripture tells us that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God (2 Chronicles 14:2).” Indeed, through most of Asa’s life, he sought after the Lord. As king he followed the Lord and kept the commands, he got rid of political corruption, he sought the welfare of the cities under his care, and even during a time of war where a million men marched against Judah, Asa prays the prayer “Help us, O Lord, our God, for we rely on you (2 Chronicles 14:11).” He was a good king. But something happens. After a time of peace and prosperity King Asa grew proud and arrogant. He became overly confident in his military and in the economy of Judah leading him to be a bully to the nations around him. The Lord sent to King Asa prophets to call the king and nation back to the Lord, but the King instead responded with rage and cast the prophet into prison and even inflicted cruelties upon the people. The Lord then sent a sickness upon Asa and scripture tells us that even during the time of sickness, which would lead to his death, King Asa would not seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:12).
This Bible story has been haunting me these past few days. I feel the story of King Asa is a story of many people, and of many nations – the United States included. We (our nation) has been so blessed by God. We have grown strong, have called upon the Lord in times of war, and indeed have lived through a period of time of great peace and prosperity unknown to previous generations. But like King Asa, I feel that we too have grown proud and arrogant, trusting more in the things of this world (like the military or stock exchange), than in the Lord. Yet, God is always faithful, and in his faithfulness, he has continued to send godly men and women to proclaim the Word and call people to Himself. Unfortunate, like King Asa, the world as defined by our culture, has sought to shackle all things spiritual or religious to the realm of personal private observance. We cannot shackle God, but we (as a culture) can grow deaf and blind, and I think this is what has happened. We are now caught up in a time of crisis, wondering where is God? Not realizing that God has always been present but our hearts and minds have been turned from Him. I do not know where this COVID-19 virus has come from, or what has caused it. I do not believe, nor do I want to suggest that it is from God. But what I do believe, and what I do want to suggest, is that if we do anything, let us turn our hearts to God and cry out to Him. “Help us, O Lord, our God, for we rely on you.” Be courageous in your faith.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Trent Eastman (3/21/2020)
Concerning the Word of Life 