Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David … In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. 2 Chronicles 34:1–3 NKJV
It is worth noting that, in contrast to Manasseh and Amon, Josiah committed himself at a young age to seek the Lord. This would have a decisive impact on the rest of his life, and for the better! The choices we make and the habits we develop at a young age will have a very important impact on the rest of our lives.
Today, more than ever, there are plenty of things to distract us from the things of God. Josiah certainly had a lot to do as king, but he made the right choices from the start!
Allow me to speak directly. Have you made the right choice? Have you decided to follow the Lord Jesus? I mean seriously? It is a decision that you have to make! And then you have to persevere every day, even when it is difficult. And there will be discouragements! But we have to keep going!
Like Josiah, let us not waste a single moment in deciding to resolutely follow the Lord Jesus with a pure and whole heart!
The seriousness of Josiah’s choice was evident when, four years later, in the twelfth year of his reign, at the age of only twenty, he set out to cleanse the whole land of things that were contrary to and incompatible with the things of God. His faith had grown, and his commitment to seek the Lord had not diminished; quite the opposite!
For us, young and not so young believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our faith will also grow as we move forward with determination for the Lord, and we will become useful vessels in the hands of the Master. The sooner, the better, but even if we are no longer in our prime time, let us look at the blessing we will soon inherit and “continue with the Lord,” with “purpose of heart” (Acts 11:23).