Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.

2 Kings 23:25

At a meeting last week in San Diego, I had breakfast with a colleague and as we discussed our careers and aspirations, the conversation turned to the desire to finish strong, not only in this year’s performance but in the greater picture of life.

As I read through the life of Josiah, I admire the consistency of his life. He fulfilled the command of the law of Moses –

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

I am reminded of one of Josiah’s ancestors, King Asa. Like Josiah, Asa turned to the LORD and corrected many of the errors of the other kings who did not serve the LORD. He even removed his own mother as the Queen mother because she made an idol for the Asherah (2 Chronicles 15:16). But, Asa did not finish well.

Instead of relying on God in his time of need, Asa turned to the King of Syria to help him defeat the enemy, and when he was challenged, instead of repenting and returning to the LORD, he withdrew. Finally, when he contracted a disease in his feet during his final years, he failed again to call out to God.

“Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians

2 Chronicles 16:12

Consider the contrast between these two kings and let’s choose the example of Josiah and follow the LORD with all our heart, mind and soul from now until our end.