Who is unfaithful?

2 Chronicles 29:6-7 "For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.”

Hezekiah said, “They have forsaken Him.”  They were associated with God, but at some point, they looked at God and said, “No. I want to live life my way without your influence or guidance.”

How is your relationship with God today? Are you forsaking Him? That is a silly question.  How about, "Are you living life your way?" That is forsaking God, rejecting your former association with Him.

They turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs.
So, not only did they reject their association with God, they literally turned their backs on the place where He dwelled. They no longer intended to meet with God.  They knew where He dwelled; they just chose to not submit themselves to His presence.

Can we be guilty of that? Yes! But, In what way?
If you would be embarrassed by anything you do, think or say in front of your church family, your mama or your pastor – YOU ARE turning your back on God’s presence.
We think we are clever, don’t we?  If we aren't mindful of God in our choices and behavior, somehow He is not there and somehow that makes it okay. That it is called self-deception and we are denying His presence. I am His dwelling place! He is always present! Therefore, I expose the church to every choice and behavior.

They shut the doors, put out the lamps, made no offerings and ceased worshipping the Lord.
There was no intention of re-entry, nor was there any invitation or encouragement for others to enter the dwelling place of God. In the Book of Revelation, the lamps are sometimes interpreted as the effective witness of the church.  They put out the lamps, determined to stop being an effective witness. God was no longer a priority in their lives, so they stopped making offerings and worshipping God.

In your daily witness, do you invite people to know the Lord? To experience the joy, hope, love, mercy and forgiveness you claim as your own? Is God a priority? Do you provide the offering He determines or do you give out of your left over’s? Do you worship Him in your lifestyle daily (beyond a corporate worship service)? Is corporate worship important unless there is a better offer?

By acknowledging where we are in relation to God (really), we can either determine to prepare ourselves for renewal - moving toward God, or continue on the path we have already set that leads away from God.

Hezekiah called his fathers unfaithful. What exactly does that make us?