Are You Influencing the Future?

2 Chronicles 34-35

"He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or the left." 2 Chronicles 34:2

Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh, was deep into idol worship. He rebuilt the high places where idols were worshiped and which his father, Hezekiah, had torn down. He built altars to the false gods, the Baals, and made Asherah poles to worship other idols. He worshiped the stars and threw his children into the fire as sacrifices. He practiced witchcraft and consulted mediums. God allowed him to be captured and taken to Babylon in bronze shackles with a hook in his nose. Then he humbled himself before God and prayed. God heard his prayer and restored him as King in Jerusalem. The last part of 2 Chronicles 23:13 says, "Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God."

Afterward, Manasseh did an about face. He got rid of the foreign gods and threw out the altars that had been built to worship them. Then he restored the altar of God and sacrificed fellowship and thank offerings to the true God.

Manasseh's son, Amon, succeeded his father as king. He worshiped and sacrificed to idols as his father had originally done. After Amon's death, his eight year old son, Josiah, became king. Josiah followed in the footsteps of King David. When he was sixteen, he began to seek the God David had worshiped. When he was twenty, he began to purge Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, the altars of Baal, and idols. Then he sent men to repair the temple.

While the temple was being restored, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Moses. Shaphan, the secretary, took the book to King Josiah and read part of it to him. King Josiah tore his robes, humbled himself before God, and wept because he realized how greatly his ancestors had disobeyed God. King Josiah called all the people together and read to them from the book of the law. Then the king renewed the covenant to follow God and keep His commandments, and he had all the people renew the covenant as well. Josiah removed all the idols in his kingdom, and, as long as Josiah lived, the Israelites in Judah followed the God of their ancestors.

The story of Josiah shows us the tremendous power and influence of leadership. He turned his whole kingdom from idol worship to the worship of God.

Why would a young king choose to worship God rather than the idols his father worshiped? I have to believe that there was a strong godly influence in his life. It could have been his grandfather, who turned from idol worship, or a godly mother or godly advisors, but there must have been someone in his life who counteracted the evil influence of his ungodly father.

What about you? Who has been a godly influence in your life--a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a teacher, a minister, a friend or a neighbor? Think about the young people in your circle of acquaintances--children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, your friend's children, children in your neighborhood or church. Will you ask God to give you opportunities to be a godly influence in their lives, to help guide them to Him?

Father, may we be aware of the young people with whom we are acquainted. May be seek opportunities to influence them for You. Amen.