03/09/2022 - THE PRICE OF AUDACITY

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Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar.  2 Chronicles 26.19

When we are not right with God, we make the worst decisions. Instead of Uzziah being furious, he should heed the priests. When he was rebuked by God’s servants, who quoted the biblical statement prohibiting the king’s conduct, the Spirit of God spoke to his heart that that warning was correct. Like the sinner who sells himself to the devil, this leader chose to rebel against the Truth. Now, never rebel against the Truth, but yield to it (2 Corinthians 13.8).

Uzziah did not want to be stopped, because he already had the object in his hand to burn incense. However, because of their love for the king, the priests called his attention to the seriousness of that act. The best thing in life is to meet people who warn us of the punishment for transgressing, but some get angry at those who prevent them from actually sinning; others, if they could, would hurt those who try to get them out of eternal damnation. Be vigilant!

In his rebellion, the king probably threatened the priests and mistreated them. Uzziah’s anger against those who consecrated themselves to God’s work was so great that he soon noticed the divine hand at work so that he would not sin. The Lord acts on our behalf, making us suffer a little so that we will not be defendants on Judgment. One’s greatest suffering is to face doom that will last forever.

Uzziah was not well, for he stood up against the priests appointed by the Most High to take care of His work. Now, when a person receives the order to represent the Lord, they have the authority to do what is necessary. Paul, being opposed by Elymas the false prophet, told him: O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? (Acts 13.10). Believe and live!

What happened at that moment was a great battle in which the devil found someone to mock the Word. To do so, the adversary managed to make the sovereign ignore the Scriptures and insist on rebellion. How many saved people also saw the evil force take hold of them and did nothing, even though they had the Holy Spirit’s assistance? But then they realized that they had to stopped by force with serious consequences from the battle; otherwise, they would be eternally lost.

Suddenly, the priests saw the just punishment for that irresponsible attitude. They showed zeal to prevent Uzziah from transgressing. Leprosy then broke out on his forehead before those men of God. A tragedy because of a wrong wish! Now the king would be forever separated from his family and other people. It’s not worth committing iniquity, to abandon the mission of fighting for the kingdom of God against the kingdom of sin. Lovers, money, fame, for what? They never pay off!

The punishment came exactly in the house of blessing, the house of the Lord, next to the altar that made God smell that sweet smell, that was sent to please Him. Why exchange divine peace and love for someone else’s “love”? Never part yourself for shame! Wake up, brother!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares