Josiah, as promised. Now this guy was amazing–he comes near the end of a long streak of kings of Judah, some good, many bad. Josiah, though, blows them all away. 2 Kings 23:25 says “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did.”

Josiah began his reign as an 8-year-old boy, taking over from a guy who worshiped idols. When he’s 26, the high priest finds the Book of the Law and send it to Josiah, who tears his clothes and immediately starts changing things. This guy demolishes everything that goes against God’s decrees. Idols, shrines, priests to pagan gods, mediums, spiritists–everything. He even has everyone’s household gods destroyed. And he turns completely to God, renewing the covenant with God.

Imagine today if a president-turned-dictator got into power and did such a thing. He would destroy Hollywood, desecrate strip clubs, demolish half of the music industry (or more), and even come into homes and mash up little Buddhas, crystal balls, and nine tenths of most movie collections. Then he would gather together the whole country, and pray with them, telling God we would serve him only. America would never stand for it, and yet many Americans–and most foreigners–consider the USA to be a “Christian” nation.

How about on a personal level? What would happen if we turned our lives entirely over to Christ’s control? Would we need to destroy half of our movie collection? Would we have to delete our massive collection of pirated mp3s? How would we drive? Could we keep saying the things we say? How difficult would it be to root out all the household idols of our minds?

Oswald Chambers says it well in his devotional My Utmost for His Highest: Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted.