Eviction Day

…that altar with the high place he pulled down and burned, reducing it to dust (2 Kings 23:15).

To confront the recurring disobedience in our lives, we may need to resort to some drastic measures.  We don’t send an alcoholic to a bar for rehab. We get them away from the source of temptation as much as possible. For you to find success, you might need to evict some dangerous things in your life.

King Josiah reigned over Judah for 18 years in ignorance concerning God’s Law. One day, a servant discovered a copy of Genesis-Deuteronomy and read it before the king. He was overwhelmed. In 2 Kings 22:8-20, we read his response. In light of God’s commandments, he humbled himself and begged God for mercy.

Due to his repentant heart, God was not going to make him experience this judgment. God was going to keep their enemies at bay until Josiah died, but that wasn’t enough for him. Even though God spared him from punishment, Josiah wanted to rid himself and his land of sin’s pollution. With the promise of his security, he still took drastic measures in 2 Kings 23:1-20. He tore down idols and burned any shard left of them. It was eviction day in the land where idols were concerned.

Even though he was spared from judgment, he wanted to safeguard himself from further defilement.

It wasn’t enough that King Josiah was forgiven of sin; he wanted to remove the temptation. Through sweeping reforms and drastic measures, he reduced the possibility of further idolatry.

If you have received the gospel, you too have been spared from judgment regarding sin, but that doesn’t mean you are immune from sin’s effect. You still need to rid yourself from sin’s influence in your life as much as possible.

Considering your most dangerous sinful leaning, what drastic measures do you need to take? Is there anything or anyone in your life that will complicate your progress? 

Acknowledge those stumbling blocks down and ask God to show you what you need to evict.