06.01.04

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. - 2 Chronicles 31:20-21.

In the United States, we observed Memorial Day yesterday. Along with the observance, there has been much talk about the greatest generation, which is the title of a book written by Tom Brokaw a few years ago. Americans born in the 1920s who came of age during the Great Depression, fought in World War II, and went on to build America are those Brokaw refers to as being a part of the greatest generation in his book. Facing great adversity the greatest generation never gave up but continued on. They continued on through the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, and they are still a great influence in this country.

The Greatest Generation had a great work ethic, which I believed was instilled through the background of faith in which they grew up. America during those years was a Christian nation. As Hezekiah did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God so did much of the greatest generation. According to my uncle, my grandfather used to always tell him “if something is worth doing; it is worth doing your best. If you can’t do your best don’t do it.” I think most of those who make up the Greatest Generation and Hezekiah would agree with that.

Hezekiah did his best, “he did it with all his heart.” With all your heart. I think this means that you give it everything you’ve got. Not holding anything back. You do your very best. So how does this apply? It applies first to work done in spiritual matters. Hezekiah “did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God” and “he did it with all his heart.” What was it that Hezekiah did? From chapter 29 through chapter 31 is recorded the most extended account of any revival in Biblical history. What did Hezekiah do? 2 Chronicles 29:2, “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.” Hezikiah “opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them (v. 3).” He “brought in the priests and the Levites” and restored the worship at the Temple. Chapter 30 tells of Hezekiah keeping the Passover, which apparently had not been done in some time. Through the leadership of Hezekiah, the entire nation again observed the Passover. In chapter 31, we see that Hezekiah makes provision for the Priests and Levites so that they would be provided for on an ongoing basis. Looking at the spiritual work of Hezekiah, we see he gave it all that he had.

We can apply this to the spiritual work that God would have us to do. We should be ever mindful that what we do - especially in spiritual work we do all as unto the Lord. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality (Colossians 3:23-25).” If we are a teacher, does it matter if we just prepare enough to get by or if we give it all that we’ve got, that we do our best? Of course, it matters because even more than the words we say they will follow our example. If the example you present is one of barely doing enough to get by, of being undependable, unpredictable then that is what you are teaching more than anything you may say. I have been picking on our teachers and leaders but spiritually it applies to every child of God and I think that we used to know and understand that. And if we do our best with all our heart, we will certainly prosper spiritually as did Hezekiah while he was obedient to the Lord.

As a child of God, you have a basic understanding of salvation and of the Kingdom of God. When you are saved that does not mean all the spiritual work is over. It has just begun. You’ve joined the Army of God and your Commander has work for you to do for each day of your life upon planet earth. And when the day comes that He no longer has a purpose for your being here then you will be in Heaven. If you haven’t done so already, I would encourage you to report for duty and if you have gone AWOL, it is time to return to fulfill your commitment.