2 Chronicles 16:12 (NIV) In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.

When we first learn of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14, we read that he did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. He made a lot of needed reforms and removed all sorts of idols from the land of Judah. He commanded the people to seek the Lord and to obey His Word. When a huge army came against him and Judah, he called on the Lord and the Lord struck them down right in from of Asa and the army of Judah (2 Chronicles 14:9-13). He had great success because he honored and obeyed God.

But a couple of chapters later, we read the verse above, which is a totally different picture of Asa than how he started. It seemed to have begun when another army came against him and Judah, but instead of seeking help from God like he did before, he sought help from Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. While he did secure victory for himself and Judah with the Arameans' help, it caused his heart to distance itself from the Lord. When God sent one of His prophets to rebuke King Asa for looking for help elsewhere, this only enraged him. It made him so angry that he had the prophet thrown in prison. How did this king that started off so well and accomplished so many good things with God's help fall so hard? It must have happened before he sought the king of Aram's help. Notice that He went to God before, but this time, he sought human help.

When we are not careful to stay close to Jesus, our hearts begin to stray. It doesn't stray in one fell swoop but instead, little by little. Then one day a situation arises, or trouble comes and you don't go to the Lord who had been by your side all along. You look elsewhere for your help. You may get help, but it will come at a high cost, which is forfeiting your intimate relationship with Jesus. Once you lose that, you will begin to change into someone that people will not even recognize. Your heart will turn hard and then even when great trouble comes your way, you will refuse to humble yourself and return to Jesus. It's hard to imagine that you would fall that hard when you are staying close to Jesus, but when your heart strays away from Him, you will fall that hard.

Stay close to Jesus at all times and don't get so comfortable with yourself that you think you can back off a bit from how you have been seeking Him. That's your only guarantee against your heart turning and sabotaging your own life by causing you to turn from the giver of life and the lover of your soul. Don't let your heart stray so that you will not be left seeking help from humans as weak as yourself instead of seeking it from the God of wonders who heals all of our diseases.

Pastor Joey Vazquez