“The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem.”2 Chronicles 35:18
God has been desiring his children to turn back to Him since the beginning. If those of us who were called by him had just enough courage and trust in Him we could also turn others to Him.
King Josiah sought God from and early age, but there were centuries of kings before him that wavered. The waywardness of other kings turned the people of Israel on the wrong the path and the majority of God’s people had gone astray. These people were following other small “g” gods, they were making idols of anything they could see or get their hands on, and they were making decisions that were so far from God’s way. Sounds like Modern Day, right?!
Well Josiah couldn’t handle it, his heart was breaking for God and his people, so He sought after God so fiercely that it led him to God’s Word. I’m not talking like he finally started reading the Bible, I mean the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses had been lost and Josiah’s priests found it and read it aloud.
“When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.” 2 Chronicles 34:19
King Josiah was moved to action. He didn’t just let his heart hurt, he allowed it to fuel the passion God had given him. He no longer wanted to just lead the people well, he desired to lead the people to the Lord.
“He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord —to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.” 2 Chronicles 34:30-31
As long as Josiah was alive the people followed after God, and his first act of faithfulness was celebrating the Passover which hadn’t taken place since Samuel’s time.
When we are seeking God fully, we will experience a breaking of our heart for what breaks His. This breaking in turn should drive a passion within us and become a call on our life. This can come at a young age or it can come later in life, it doesn’t matter “when”, all that matters is “what” we do with it.
If we allow our trust in Him to produce the courage we need, we can use this passion to turn others to God through Jesus. It’s never going to be too late for God to use you to turn others to Him. He’s not done yet and neither are you.
He used Josiah after years of unfaithful kingdoms. He can use you in our World today, no matter how BAD it looks. Don’t let the thought creep in that the “world is too far gone”. If God has called you, then He will strengthen, empower, and provide for you a way.
It’s not too late! Seek Him – Say it after me, “Here I am, Send Me.” He’s going to use you to change a life, to turn others to Him.
Running 2 Fly 