LORD, Set Our Hearts Right To Love YOU Sincerely. Amen.

Do not mistake the lessons learned 

at your mother's knee--

for the teachings of the HOLY SPIRIT!
(Charles Spurgeon, "Joash and His Friend Jehoiada")

"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD--
all the years of Jehoiada the priest." 2 Chronicles 24:2

After the six years living in the house of GOD, 

Joash had a grand start in life with everything 

to his advantage. Alas, alas, alas, that, 

with such a bright beginning--

he should come to such a wretched end!

Notice also that, being thus well-started, 

"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD--
all the years of Jehoiada the priest."  

While that godly priest lived, the king 

was under his influence; he consulted 

him in every matter of importance. 

He was plastic under Jehoiada's 

hand, and he did that which 

was right in the sight of the LORD--

not only that which was right 

in the sight of godly people. 

His life seems to have been at least 

outwardly obedient to the law of JEHOVAH, 

and he yielded himself up, apparently, 

at any rate, to be a loyal servant 

of the great King; and that he did, 

not for a short time only--

but all the years in which Jehoiada lived.

But Joash buried all his religion 

in Jehoiada's grave!

The graven images which he had broken down--

were set up again.
The Asherah poles which he had cut down--

were worshiped again.
And he who seemed so zealous 

a servant of Jehovah--

had now become a worshiper 

of the foul idols, and bowed before 

the accursed Baals. Oh, sad, sad, sad!

There was a lack of godly principle in Joash--

and it is of this, that I want to warn all.
Do not be satisfied with the practice of piety--

without the principles of piety.

It is not enough to have a correct creed--

you must have a renewed heart. 
It is not sufficient to have an ornate ritual--

you must have a holy heart and life.

If this change is not wrought 

in you by the HOLY SPIRIT--

you who yield so readily to godly parents, 

will yield just as quickly to evil companions 

when on your own out in the world.

Well, now, have we not known men and 

women, whose lives have been under 

the benignant influence of some kind 

father or mother, and they have done 

what was right year after year--

as long as their godly parents lived? 

They have been diligent in going up to GOD'S 

house, apparently devout in Bible-reading 

and prayer, willing to assist in work 

in the church and all sorts of service 

for the LORD, and leading outwardly 

most useful, admirable lives--

all the time that these nobler 

influences were over them.

More than this, Joash was zealous 

for the externals of religion: 

"Joash decided to repair and restore 
the Temple of the LORD."  (2 Chronicles 24"4)

Yes, and there are some whose hearts are 

not right towards GOD, who nevertheless 

are very zealous about the externals 

of divine worship. It is a much easier 

thing to build a temple for GOD--

than it is be a temple for GOD. 

Just so, it is a much more common thing 

for people to show zeal in repairing churches--

than in reforming their own lives. 

Likewise, there are many who, trained up 

in the ways of the LORD, are indefatigable 

in rendering some external service to 

 the cause of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

They would give to the building of a church; 

they would work hard to construct it, and 

so forth. But, alas, you may give, and you 

may work, and you may attend to all 

the externals of religion--

and yet have no part nor lot in the matter!

All this while, Joash influenced other people 

for good. As king, he kept back the nation 

from the worship of idols. As king, he threw 

the cloak of his patronage over those 

who worshiped JEHOVAH; and things 

seemed to go well for years, 

"all the days of Jehoiada the priest." 

As long as Jehoiada lived, Joash 

seemed to be all that he should be!

All that Joash had done, was to 

give his heart to Jehoiada--

not to JEHOVAH. It is very 

easy to be outwardly religious--

by giving your heart to your 

mother or your father--

or some godly person who 

helps you to do what is right. 

But GOD says, 

"MY son, give ME your heart." 
(Proverbs 23:26)

If your religion is taken up 

to please any creature--

it is not the religion which pleases 

the CREATOR. Your homage is due, not 

to anyone here below, but to HIM who sits 

in the heavens, whose kingdom rules over all.

This yielding to godly influences may exist 

without any personal, vital godliness whatever! 

You may meet with GOD'S people--

and yet not be one of GOD'S people. 

A young man may yield to his mother's advice--

and yet never be really repentant on account 

of sin. He may listen to his father's word, and 

pay respect to the externals of his father's religion--

but yet never have sincerely believed 

in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

It is so easy to have been under religious 

influence from our youth up, and then 

to go on, year after year, never having 

raised the question whether we are 

true Christians or not!

Many young people are like Joash: sinful 

human nature is held in check for a while--

not the SPIRIT of GOD creating a new life, 

and infusing a new character into the soul.

Do not imagine that natural religion is 
spiritual religion. Do not mistake the 
lessons learned at your mother's knee--
for the teachings of the HOLY SPIRIT! 

Though you were raised under the most 
hallowed influences, you only need an 
opportunity, a temptation, a peculiar 
stress laid upon you--
and you will go off where the old 
nature carries you, and you will find out 
for yourself, and to the horror of others--
that all your early religious training 
had effected nothing!

Oh, if I could tell some of you 
what will become of you--
you would be so angry with me! 

If I could prophesy 
to some good young fellow--
I mean, outwardly good as Joash was 
at first, but without a new heart, 
without the grace of GOD in his soul--
if I could prophesy to him what 
a monster he will become--
he would spit in my face 
in indignation that I should 
dare to foretell such a thing!

Yet there is not a man or woman who 
is safe from the most abominable sin--
until they sincerely yield themselves 
to CHRIST. There is not one who is 
sure that the deepest damnation 
of Hell will not be their portion--
unless they sincerely come and commit 
their soul into the hands of JESUS!

  
 ~  ~  ~  ~

You might want to read the whole of Charles Spurgeon's insightful article, 
"Joash and His Friend Jehoiada".