It’s not enough to start strong in a race (or any athletic competition). On more than one occasion we’ve seen leads evaporate, a competitor stumble and fall, or someone violate the rules of competition and be disqualified.
Asa, king of Judah, is a case study in the problem as it relates to godly leadership. Every year in my Bible reading when I review his story I grimace a bit. Just last week I read the uplifting account of his leadership in 2 Chronicles 14-15… So encouraging! In fact, I finished my post regarding him by saying we need more national leaders like Asa!
Then, in the very next chapter – 2 Chronicles 16 – I find myself disappointed, disillusioned and grieving…
After achieving an incredible victory in an impossible situation when the armies of Judah were greatly outnumbered through prayer and dependence on God… after many years of godly leadership with God’s blessing… Asa failed! Asa depended on “the arm of flesh” rather than the power of God! Asa behaved in a rebellious and tyrannical manner!
God sent Hanani, the prophet to Asa and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you! Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH, TO GIVE STRONG SUPORT TO THOSE WHOSE HEART IS BLAMELESS TOWARD HIM!
“Then Asa was anygry with the prophet and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at this time.
“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease HE DID NOT SEEK THE LORD, but sought help from the physicians.” (From 2 Chronicles 16 ESV)
I’ve got to tell you… I don’t only want to start strong – I want to finish strong. I’m tired of seeing seasoned leaders cave in, goof up, do something sinful and stupid, and ruin what should have been a story of sustained, strong, Spiritual leadership. O God, may I make Apostle Paul’s resolve my own… “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it…I discipline my body and keep it under control, last after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified!” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) Help me Lord!I
Coffee With The Lord 