Promise versus Compromise

UV 920/10,000 Compromise versus Promise For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 2 Chronicles 16 v 9 The eyes of the Lord keep moving across the globe to find people whose hearts are perfect toward Him. A perfect heart is one which trusts and hopes in the Lord completely and does not rely on any human or earthly hope. An imperfect heart is one that trusts and hopes in the Lord inconsistently and partially. Asa King of Judah had initially obeyed the Lord wholeheartedly and he was given victory against his enemies. But later he entered into a treaty with Benhadad, the king of Syria against the king of Israel. He purchased peace with the king of Syria in the 36th year of his reign by sending him gold and silver treasures from the temple of the Lord and from his treasury. In doing so, the prophet Hanani told him that he had incurred the displeasure of the Lord and that henceforth he would have wars with Israel all his days to contend with as he had relied not upon the Lord but upon the arm of flesh and his own wisdom. By the 39th year of Asa’s reign, we learn that he suffered from a severe disease of his feet and in another two years he perished in his affliction. A compromise grows like a cancer. A compromise implies that we have disbelieved God and we have annulled His covenant promise to be strong on our behalf. Weakness or the tendency to compromise is part of human nature but the power or grace to overcome comes from God. Asa had compromised. When the prophet reprimanded him, he got sore with him and put him in prison. When he suffered a severe disease in his feet, he relied on his physicians and not on the Lord. He had hardened his once perfect heart against the Lord and His Word. He could have repented when his error was pointed out. He could have once more perfected his heart toward the Lord. If he had done so, the Lord would have revealed his favour or grace and strength on his behalf. Asa had done a double folly- first, in relying on an earthly alliance against the king of Israel and second, in not repenting or turning from his error once it was pointed out. Like Asa it is not the longevity of our success run that counts but how well we finish. Jesus wants us to be good finishers like Him. The Biblical pattern of history is replicated in every generation. David compromised badly in the matter of Uriah and his wife Bathsheba. He was a man after God’s own heart and though unlike Asa, he repented, the Lord promised that the sword and conflict would mark his whole life, that his foes and enemies would rise from his own family, that his wives would be taken captive, abused and humiliated. We act foolish when we disobey the commandment of God or the Word and when we disbelieve the promises of the Lord. His eyes are always seeing all that we are doing including our innermost thoughts and motives. He turns His face against us when we wantonly and repeatedly ignore His warning. He hears our prayers and gives us evidence of His favour in miraculous signs and wonders when we win His favour and walk all our days in uprightness and in alignment with His Word and will. Everything cannot be built in a day but everything can be lost in a single day or even a moment of indiscretion. That thought will produce the reverence for the Lord and His Word which will produce wisdom and keep us on track all the time. Prateep V Philip