In 2 Chronicles 14, we read that when Asa ascended to the throne, he immediately got rid of the foreign altars and the high places, broke the sacred stones, and cut down Asherah poles. He commanded the people of Judah to keep the laws and commandments of the Lord. And Asa did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God; therefore, there was peace in the land, and there was no war for many years, and the Lord gave him rest.

In 2 Chronicles 15, he continued to remove the detestable idols, and he rebuilt the altar of the Lord in front of the portico of the Lord's temple. He even deposed his grandmother, Queen Maacah, by cutting down her repulsive image she had made, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

King Asa sought and obeyed God's word (2 Chronicles 14:11, 15:2) and worshiped God devoutly (15:9-14). We see a godly and obedient servant of God.

However, in chapter 16, King Asa's attitude seems to change. When Baasha, the king of Israel, came to attack Judah, built Ramah, and refused to allow anyone to leave or enter the territory of Asa, king of Judah, he turned to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, for help. Even when the prophet Hanani warned him sternly, he was bent on not listening. Even when he was seriously ill, he sought a physician, not the Lord. The Bible does not tell us the reason for King Asa's sudden change of heart.

Such an event also occurred in this modern era. Ravi Zacharias, a world-renowned Christian apologist and respected Christian leader, was exposed for sexually assaulting several massage therapists over a period of more than a decade.

What happened to King Asa and Ravi Zechariah is a wake-up call for us. King Asa had a very good start, but he turned away from God in his later years and relied on his personal wisdom and abilities. Similarly, Ravi Zacharias failed to maintain his personal integrity, even though he possessed God-given wisdom and gifts and had established a good reputation in Christian circles.

As a Christian, we need to know that no one is immune to failure. We must consistently seek God, act with humility, take responsibility and ensure we persevere in the race of faith. Like Asa and Ravi Zechariah, everyone can fall, but through the power of God's grace, we can remain steadfast and faithful throughout our lives.

Reflection: Are There Areas Where I Am Drifting?

Prayer : Loving Father, thank you for your grace. Help us to stay humble and seek your face daily. Remind us that we can all fall and give us strength to keep our faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.