Asa Part 4 - FINISH WELL

I don't know about you, but I want to finish "in the game." I want to run my race with endurance. I want to fight the good fight of faith until my last breath. 

As we wrap up our series looking at the life of Asa, we are issued a sober warning - FINISH WELL.

By now, you've seen and heard all of the great things that Asa did. How his faith was strong and how he relied on the LORD and had sweeping religious reform. Asa started strong, and Asa kept going strong. But Asa did not finish strong. Look at 2 Chronicles 16 with me.

"In the 36th year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or to come in to Asa king of Judah."

So here, the northern Kingdom of Israel seeks to harm the southern kingdom of Judah. What will Asa do? Will he rely on the Lord, as he did against the Ethiopians?

"Then Asa took silver and and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 'There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant Baasha king of Israel, that me may withdraw from me.'"

Asa took gold from the treasures of the LORD's house and sent it to a foreign king, asking for help. Asa did not rely on the LORD.

God sent Hanani the seer to confront him and said, "You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars." "Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time." (vv. 9b-10)

When Asa trusted in the LORD, the land had rest. And now, because he failed to rely on the LORD, he was promised wars. When confronted, instead of repenting, Asa hardened his heart even more. What a tragedy! 

For 36 years Asa's reign was great, marked by God, and in the last 5 years, he failed to turn to the LORD.

Friends, this must be a warning to us. We cannot get comfortable. We cannot think we've arrived at a moment where we can start coasting in our own strength. We must be dependent on the Lord every day of our lives. FINISH WELL, dear saints. If you've been a believer for 30+ years, don't get sleepy now. Run with endurance! If you're younger or middle-aged, make it your aim to finish well! 

Let us learn from Asa, both his righteous acts, and his sins.

~ Pastor Alexander