“And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 28:1-2
Role models. Examples. Mentors. Almost every young person will grow up with their eyes upon some type of model for their life. Maybe a mother or father, maybe a grandparent, maybe a sports star, or sadly in today’s world, maybe a top Tik-Tok influencer. They will set their sights on this figure and model their behavior, copy their demeanor and dress, and even mimic their life decisions. But role models are not just for kids. Even as we mature, we still base our lives on the role models and examples we deem worthy. It may be a trusted colleague we emulate, or maybe a wealthy business leader. It may be a tolerant friend that does whatever we do. It may be a spiritual leader, like a pastor or Bible teacher. But regardless of your age, your demographic or your rearing, there is one guaranteed constant in all of our lives when it comes to following role models. When it comes to crunch time, will you follow your role model and what they taught you, or when complicated life issues tempt you to seek your own way, will you blaze your own trail? In 2 Chronicles chapter 28 we see bad king Ahaz blaze just such an evil trail. Instead of following the Godly examples that he had been given, instead he chooses to lead his kingdom down the trail of idol worship, child sacrifice, and offerings to false gods. Ahaz was in the direct lineage of King David, a man that had a heart that beat after God’s own heart. The Godly example that Ahaz had seen and witnessed in David’s life was an example that would yield him righteousness before the Lord. But Ahaz refused to follow David’s example. Ahaz’s father was good king Jotham, a man that faithfully followed God and His statutes, also demanding that God’s people do the same. In fact, king Jotham is one of the only kings of Israel that has nothing bad noted about him in the book of 2 Chronicles. I would say that makes Jotham a very good example. Yet, instead of following the example that his father had shown him, Ahaz chose to go to false god’s instead of the one true God. Today, what Godly examples has God placed in your life? Are you studying those examples and following their Godly ways, or have you chosen to instead go your own way, a way that is in opposition to God’s? If so, it’s never too late to change your course. It’s never too late to turn around and take a long hard look at your Godly examples and how they proceed through life’s tough stretches. It’s never too late to follow the example of what it is to do right in the eyes of the Lord. It’s way too easy to find bad examples to follow in this world today, instead choose to follow a good one, a Godly one. Pray to God to give you an example that loves, worships, and follows Jesus Christ at all costs, in all they do. For it is in this example that you will find yourself moving not away from Christ, but ever closer to Him.
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” Philippians 3:17
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