2nd Kings Chapter 21. Does the environment I live in help promote Christ or push people away from Christ?
We have a father who becomes king over Judah. After his death his son becomes king. Both were so evil and they led those around them into the same evil. They provided an environment that invited evil. False gods were placed all over which the people could get involved with. It fed their worldly flesh desires. Practices were done which were detestable. Their lives were absent of the Lord. The environment they promoted was not an environment that promoted spiritual growth and commitment.
I especially want my family and I want those around me to see and experience an environment that displays Christ and promotes Christ. Sadly we get so busy that we neglect promoting Christ. Our practices lack Christ, our commitment declines for Christ. It's not that we are worshipping the devil in our front yard. It's more that the environment becomes less and less that of Christ.
What I have learned is children and people don't walk away from Christ because leaders are worshipping the devil in their front yard. Rather people don't pursue Christ because the environment the leaders are promoting, lacks an environment that promotes a relationship with Jesus. Then parents wonder why their kids aren't committed to Jesus.
What is our environment teaching our kids today?
1. Kids learn that A “busy” life is a “good” excuse for not pursuing a committed relationship with Jesus.
2. Kids learn that there are certain things in this world more important than a committed relationship with Jesus. It can be anything: money, sports, ungodly relationships, etc.
So this chapter forced me to evaluate my own life. Is the environment I live in and is the environment I'm promoting, is it helping others pursue a relationship with Jesus or does it influence them to be captive to this world?
At the end of this chapter, we read Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord. It says he did evil just like his father Manasseh did. It’s such an important reminder that those closest to us, especially our children and our families, will follow by our example. When we think about our end goal of getting to Heaven and eternal life, we want more than anything for those we love the most to be there with us. We have to hold that close to us as we live our lives and make choices for the Lord and not against His will. I pray we can all lead lives that are pleasing in the Lords sight.
After reading this chapter, I thought about how Manasseh turned so far away from the Lord. There could have been many negative factors influencing him, but I realize that none of us need to be taught how to sin. We are all born with the sin nature in us. (See Romans 3:23.)
We read in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
We also read in James 4:8 to draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
As Pastor Blair pointed out, may the environment that we choose to live in and promote be one that helps others pursue a relationship with Jesus and grow closer to Him. May we not influence them to be captive to this world.
Jesus warns us in Matthew 18:5-6.
“Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”