“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a clean heart”- 2 Chronicles 25:2(KJV)
A cursory look at the life of Amaziah will give meaning to the phrase “but not with a clean heart”. His doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD is working in line with the dictate of the laws as it is written but having his heart far from God. Amaziah’s heart was not after the God of his fathers. Unlike Asa, Abijah and Jehoshaphat, the kings of Judah who ruled and acted in the fear of God, Amaziah’s heart was not pure towards God and His statute. Amaziah did not commit his heart to the LORD his God. His later life and the way he died attested to this. His father sought God with pure heart and obtained His help and favour. The bible says that he that will approach unto the LORD and come before His holy hill must be “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;” Psalm 24:4a (KJV). From today’s scripture, it is clear that you can do what is right but not with a pure heart. It is the heart that is expected to direct the actions of a man. But that was not the case with Amaziah, king of Judah, who covered his unclean heart at the beginning of his reign.
We have a lot of Amaziahs in the church today; these are very dedicated brothers and sisters serving in ushering unit, sanctuary keepers, hospitality group, Crowd Control unit, Choir etc, but who outside the church indulge in sinful and immoral activities. Such pretense and hypocrisy don’t usually last as in the case of Amaziah. The bible says “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” -Romans 16:18(KJV). We have seen instances of a sister who is a chorister in good standing but comes to church every Sunday from a weekend in the house of a man who she is not married to. The bible says that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it” – Jeremiah 17:9(KJV). Even the most anointed pastor can be deceived by the craftiness of men but God is not deceived. For God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sows that he will reap. If we sow in sin, whether in the open or secret, it does not matter we will reap eternal condemnation. But if we sow in righteousness we will reap eternal life. Doing the right things in line with God’s instruction with a clean heart is righteousness. The scripture says in Romans 10:10(KJV) “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. We need to guard against living a double-sided life. We must strive to live clean, depending on the Holy Spirit to carry us through. We must let the word of God sink deep into our heart. Our heart must be seriously purged of dead works. We must avoid the kind of trap Amaziah ensnared himself in.
Prayer: Oh Lord give me the grace to remain true in my pursuit in life.
Bro Joel Ezeugo