Breaking The Cycle
Last night I wrote about the influence fathers have on their sons and daughters. Make no mistake, it is a powerful influence for good or for evil. However, it is not always the case that a sinful father has a sinful son. The cycle of sin can be broken, and Hezekiah is a very good example of that.(II Kings 18:5,6)
Hezekiah's father, Ahaz, was a sinful king, who sacrificed one of his son to a pagan god, and remodeled the temple with a pagan altar to suit himself against God's will. Hezekiah did not have a good model to follow, but he still broke the cycle. Anyone can break the cycle.
Hezekiah was able to overcome his pagan father's influences by trusting the Lord God. In fact, his faith in God was greater than all of the other kings who reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah. In addition to a strong faith, he had a persistent faith that lasted over the years. He never departed from his close walk with the Lord after he gave himself to Him. Finally, we read that he kept the commandments of God which Moses had received and written down for the people of God. That combination will allow anyone to break the cycle of sin.
This is even more true today, because now we have the whole Word of God. We have the Holy Spirit to inhabit every believer. Once we trust Christ as our Lord and Savior, He guides us into all truth, and convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. If we hold fast to the Lord day after day, and we keep His commands and follow the principles in His Word, we will break the cycle.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Kings 19-21.
Hezekiah's father, Ahaz, was a sinful king, who sacrificed one of his son to a pagan god, and remodeled the temple with a pagan altar to suit himself against God's will. Hezekiah did not have a good model to follow, but he still broke the cycle. Anyone can break the cycle.
Hezekiah was able to overcome his pagan father's influences by trusting the Lord God. In fact, his faith in God was greater than all of the other kings who reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah. In addition to a strong faith, he had a persistent faith that lasted over the years. He never departed from his close walk with the Lord after he gave himself to Him. Finally, we read that he kept the commandments of God which Moses had received and written down for the people of God. That combination will allow anyone to break the cycle of sin.
This is even more true today, because now we have the whole Word of God. We have the Holy Spirit to inhabit every believer. Once we trust Christ as our Lord and Savior, He guides us into all truth, and convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. If we hold fast to the Lord day after day, and we keep His commands and follow the principles in His Word, we will break the cycle.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Kings 19-21.