In Second Chronicles, chapter sixteen, verse seven, Asa failed to seek God during his later years even though his heart was perfect at the beginning of his early days. The King of Judah had a “perfect” commitment to the Lord by rejecting idolatry, not necessarily in his conduct in all matters. He is an example to all believers that it is possible to fall away from faithfulness to God after participating in a spiritual reformation. Three evidences of his spiritual decline are in this chapter. Asa stopped relying on the Lord and trusted human resources, as in verses seven through nine.
Asa’s other example of spiritual decline is when he rejects and persecutes the prophet of God in verse ten. An unmistakable sign of spiritual decline is the spurning of God’s prophets who bring God’s word of rebuke and correction. When physically afflicted, rather than first seeking God for discernment and deliverance, Asa exclusively sought the help of his physicians. The situation is not the first time a king spiritually declines, only to rely on the flesh. Solomon experienced a spiritual decline in his later years.
Why does it often happen to religious people when they get older? Still, some individuals may feel they service God and the community to have the right to slack a little, which leads to compromise. There is no room for error or allowing temptation to set in. Believers either stay on the narrow or the broadway, which leads to destruction. The children must rely on God and include Him in whatever they decide to do, the situations they face, or the problems they encounter.
Believers who fail to depend upon God will resort to self, which plays into the enemy’s territory. The flesh cannot please God. That is why when we eventually pass away, the physical self will remain down here on earth, but the inner part of us, the spirit, will either be with God in heaven or go to the place of eternal damnation, hell. So why should we live recklessly at this stage when getting older? No, we should be more careful about how we live during our later years by being closer to God than ever before.
If we plan on being with God when we pass on, we should get better acquainted with Him now.