Second Chances
Second Chance
If you could do one thing over in your life, what would it be?
There are lots of things that run through our minds, but grandparents and parents with kids growing up quickly will nearly every time say the same thing: I wish I would have spent more quality time with my children, with my family.
I want us to read the Biblical story of Hezekiah and how it relates to us getting a second chance!
Lets start in 2 Chronicles:
2 Chronicles 30-32 Here we are given a Big Picture perspective of Hezekiah! Destroyed the Ashera poles, high places to foreign gods, restored the temple worship, drove out his enemies - Great deeds are done by him.
2 Chronicles 32:24-33
Humility brings forgiveness:
God left him to test him and to learn what was in his heart…? Book of Kings?
Lets now take a closer look to Hezekiah and this time of his life. Turn over to 2 Kings.
2 Kings 20:1-6
Near death, tears, 15 years!
20:12-21 Where is his focus? Where your heart is…
Pride, great wealth, did not seek advice, flaunted his fortune very important to him vs. God
A warning! Unfortunately, history shows that it happened just as he prophesied!
Vs. 19 Selfishness: As long as it doesn’t happen in my lifetime!
Q: What should he have been doing?
Preparing his family! Teaching them not to turn from God (the lesson he learned)
God blesses him, yet then withdraws and tests him
Q: How is God testing you right now? Will you pass the test?
A family focus?
2 Chron 33:1-9
12 years he lived with his father (during the 15 year extension to Hezekiah’s life).
Went right back to what the world had in store for them before God got them out of it.
All these things he did were wiped out before he was born, so where did he learn it from?
The world around him, his parents did not protect or teach him right from wrong.
Q: What are we allowing into our children’s hearts? TV, Games, Books, Schools?
Sacrificed his own son to the gods he worshipped -
Q: What god are you sacrificing your children to? Career, money, prestige?
David, Solomon - their kids turned out a mess! Why? Took their eyes off their families!
Q: How are you currently setting up your kids future?
Q: What can we do to avoid this repeat in history for our children?
Teach them while they are with us live a life worth imitating surround them with like-minded people and family…
I would like to challenge each of you to come back next week with what they did this last week to guide their children in the ways of the Lord.
