The Keys to Success

There are a lot of great people in the Bible.

But to be honest, there are times I really want to know more about them. I mean, I want some behind the scenes sort of info. Like what happened during the in-between times that pointed someone this way, or that. What caused a shift in perspective; what made them choose to follow God... or not.

Hezekiah is one such example. You see, the Bible tells us that, He was successful in whatever he undertook. And while that's and amazing statment, and I'd love that to be said of my life. What's more impressive is understanding who his father was.

Because there are losers in the Bible as well.

And Hezekiah's father, Ahaz was one of them. This is not my opinion... but God's 
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
2 Kings 16:2-4

Maybe simply knowing his brother was sacrificed to an idol caused Hezekiah to desire to be different from his father. Or the fact that Ahaz closed the Temple of God and filled the entire city of Jerusalem and all the surrounding areas with altars and idols forcing the people to worship foreign gods.

Could not having the choice of God cause you to want Him more? Or was there someone in the palace who secretly worshped Yahweh? What about his mother, a priest, a servant... was there anyone from whom he could have learned?

Can God, Himself be the only influence?

Or is it possible that one hungry enough for God could simply cry out from the emptiness inside and He would speak to them? These are the wonderings and wanderings we will never know. The in-betweens that cause my heart curiosity as I read of those who chase after God. And they encourage me to chase even harder still.

Yahweh has strengthened me

This is the meaning of Hezekiah's name.
For he trusted the Lord.
He held fast to the Lord.
He kept the Lord's commands.
And the Lord was with Him...
then Hezekiah was successful
in all he undertook.

Notice the order of events, as it is so important. For we cannot seek success in what we do before we seek the presence of God. I'm beginnig to believe that Hezekiah wasn't looking so much to be a great king, as he was simply yearing for God who had been banished by his father. There had been a void, a darkness, an empty place that only God could fill.

All too often...
I sense this in our world today.
Darkness trying to dampen the light.
Tolerance of all things
drowning out the truth.

And we begin to conform,
to sway,
to stumble into it.

But let us stand firm.
Let us trust in the Lord
Hold fast to His truth
Obey His commands. 

Let us remain in His presence...
these are the keys to success.