All the Days of Your Life

Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.

I Kings 15:14

King Asa wasn't a perfect man by any means. Nor is he particularly anyone's biblical hero. His place in the biblical record is small, and many Christians are completely unfamiliar with his name. But this verse tells us something about him that I think we often gloss over, and that is that his heart was fully committed to the Lord all the days of his life. 

Life is long. And the Devils' tricks are many. There is something to be said for simple consistency in the faith over the long run of life. It's difficult to walk closely with the Lord for many weeks or months, let alone for many years. Sin is always trying to get at us and tear us away from our God. The Devil is always laying traps for us and trying to lure us off the narrow path which we walk with our Savior. As humans we can grow tired. We can grow complacent. We can grow bored or inconsistent over the long term.

Sometimes believers say things to me like "I've already read the entire Bible. Why do I need to do it again?" And there answer is simply because there are more spiritual treasures there for you to mine out of God's Word. Some believers figure this out and persevere in the faith. I only recently had a believer in their eighties say to me with a smile on their face that they were working their way through the Bible for the fifth time. 

There is a special virtue to the believer who can get up and enjoy having quiet times, reading their Bible, praying and communing with God, and worshipping Him not only when they are young in the faith and it is all new to them but even when they grow old in the faith and it has become a habit. 

But I believe there is a special nearness to the Lord and a special reward for those who stay fully committed to the Lord over the long term, those who persevere in their loyalty and faithfulness to the Lord over many years. So, strive to not just be fully committed to the Lord but to be fully committed to Him all the days of your life.