Prepared

 November 3, 2023

“He did evil because he didn’t prepare his heart to seek the LORD.” 

—2 Chronicles 12:14

Rehoboam came from good lineage. His grandfather was David, his father Solomon. The first had a heart that was “after God’s own heart,” and the second had wisdom above all others. Rehoboam had potential; promise that was never fulfilled. The kingdom that should have prospered descended into civil war. The writer of the Chronicles tells us why: “he didn’t prepare his heart to seek the LORD.”

People often imagine that God’s blessing just happens to fall on certain people willy-nilly; that some are just lucky, while others are not. While it is true that God makes his sun shine upon both good and evil, and that his mercy often pours out upon those who would least expect it, the continuance of that mercy and blessing is often dependent on what we who receive it do with it. 

We often labor under the mistaken belief that we can seek God at any time, that we can waltz into his Presence at will, as if the Trinity were little more than the heavenly welcoming committee. Scripture doesn’t bear this out. Isaiah tells us to

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

—Isaiah 55:6-7

God welcomes all who come to him…in humility and repentance. Jesus said that those who climb up another way are little more than thieves and robbers. James says, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6), while Joel tells us to “rend your hearts and not your garments” (2:13).

If I seriously want to come into God’s presence, I must prepare my heart. Humbly recognizing and repenting of sin opens the door to God’s heart, and that is the one place where evil cannot dwell. Preparing my heart to seek God is the best guarantee of a good life of integrity and faith.