Keeping what is Important…Important!

There is a famous true story of a home that caught fire in a town. There were two firehouses in that town; one volunteer, the other professional. The volunteer house arrived first and began working, and then the professional house arrived. The two “chiefs” began to argue who should be working the fire, which drew both houses into the debate. As they argued which of them should put the fire out…the fire consumed the house! 

King Hezekiah stepped into a terrible situation…every Truth concerning God had been “prostituted” (To devote oneself or one's talent to an unworthy purpose, especially for personal gain) by the leaders and the people bringing in every idolatry in the world. How did he turn that around? 

His mindset guided him to make the choices and exercise the actions that would accomplish that. We looked at two of those “Thoughts” that guided him:

1. THOUGHT: Do it right!

2. THOUGHT: Know why you are doing something! (Hezekiah gave ownership of these “Truths” to his fellow leaders, who then shared it with the people)

If we desire to make an impact for God on our culture we would do well to follow Hezekiah's thinking, which will drive our actions. Here are the other mindsets he possessed that enabled him to stand firm even when Kings and kingdoms were threatening him! 

3. THOUGHT:  Only what God thinks matters 

Hezekiah was not one that considered or took poles! He stood on the standard God had set and nothing else mattered. So he would do whatever it took...including getting rid of something that once led to "good" but now had become "evil." 

How sad it is the state we find the majority of our leaders today. They are not driven by a deep conviction but are driven by the desire to remain in power, so they will move to whatever position will give them votes!  

2 Kings 18:3-4 He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. 

4. THOUGHT:  God's name is what matters most.

Even when Hezekiah was sent a very threatening message from the most powerful king in the world at that time, he refused to allow that to determine his actions. He was controlled by the Truth that God was King of the universe, not just the world. God's reputation was at stake...not Hezekiah's!

        2 Kings 19:14-19 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God....“Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

This is what David did in his battle with Goliath.

        1 Samuel 17:43–47 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods...Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God...you have taunted. 46 “This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands...that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.” 

5. THOUGHT:  Substance matters most!

Hezekiah was not willing to "settle" for just appearance. Israel had been doing that for a long time and that is how they moved from a relationship with God to religiosity. Religiosity looks right but is only surface, and brings in hypocritical living. Much like the devout religious person that lives like the devil, but goes to religious meetings, practices all the rituals, and even gives money as a way to pay for a sinful life. 

Hezekiah was not going to allow a tradition be the reason to moved ahead with Passover, when he knew the nation was not ready. He desired the Passover to be what it should be...not just look like it.

        2 Chronicles 30:1–3  Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month, since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem. 

Hezekiah's Mindset led him to do what was right and what mattered...It left him with a great testimony for his life.

        2 Kings 18:5-7 He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; wherever he went he prospered.

The So What: What thoughts drive you? Does your heart lead you...or do you lead your heart? If you could write a testimony of your life...what would it say?