Rekindle

In these United States, one must be at least 35 years old in order to be eligible to run for President. In ancient Israel, there was no such age restriction on becoming king. So, as history records it, a young man of 25 became king of Judah 2,723 years ago. His name was Hezekiah. In Second Chronicles 29 is the way cool story of how Hezekiah enacted religious reform - no, that word isn't quite right - religious renewal as soon as he took office.

The first thing he did was to open the doors of the temple because, as he said:

"Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil the eyes of the LORD our God and forsook Him. They turned their faces away from the LORD's dwelling place and turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel."

2 Chronicles 29:6-7 (emphasis added)

Reading that description is like going to a funeral. There is a feeling of rude finality in what the people had done in regard to their relationship with God. It's just plain awful. The wonderful counterpoint is provided in verse 3:

"In the first month of the first year of his reign, [Hezekiah] opened the doors of the temple and repaired them."

Now, it gets even better when we apply this story as an illustration of our modern day individual lives. It's a call to personal renewal. Certainly we have all found ourselves at a place where we have let the fires of God and the light of His presence burn low in our souls - even all the way out. We've become sour and choked and closed up. We have ceased at times to burn the fragrant incense of prayer and have failed to surrender ourselves as living sacrifices. We have turned our backs and our hearts have turned to stone.

Mercifully, God is patient and gracious and waits as the father of the prodigal for the rebellious ones to turn around (In fact, His Holy Spirit is an agent in that quickening and preserving - even more amazing grace!). In that moment of repentance, there is relief and rest and refreshing. Reform. How many of us need that today? Open the doors, repair them, and let worship, prayer and surrender begin again!