In the late 60s, a rather contagious opinion was spreading across the country. Many were saying, “God is dead!” There were signs on our campuses, conversations in our social circles, and tabloid photographs of students at anti-war rallies holding up signs saying, “God is dead!”
Jeroboam, in I Kings 13, “did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.”
In I Kings 22, speaking of Jehoshaphat King of Judah, “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord. The high places however, were not removed.” An appropriate question here is, what are we doing with those high places in our life that do not allow for God? In II Kings 23: 24-25, “Josiah brought all the priests from the towns of Judah and deserted the high places. He pulled down the elders the Kings of Judah had erected off the roof near the upper room of Ahay. Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin, even that altar and high place he demolished. Neither before or after Josiah was there a King like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength.”
Yes! God wants our time, our efforts, our commitment. He wants us to, “do well in the eyes of the Lord.” Jesus said in Matthew 5, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
No! God is not dead! He can be seen. He is knowable. In II Corinthians 5:21 we see that Jesus, “became sin that we might become the righteousness of God.”Jesus became our very nature that we might become His. Yes, God asks us to hold back nothing... And in return, He gives us no less than... everything.
Donald F. Claycomb