2 Chronicles 28:1

2 Chronicles 28:1 says, Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:  When Ahaz became king, he was just twenty-years old and he ruled for sixteen years.  He had inherited a kingdom that was right with God.  Unfortunately, he didn't do right in the sight of God.  There are still people who become powerful today when they are young, but if they don't follow Jesus Christ and don't obey the commandments of God, they will never have any lasting success or power.  One day, they will be held accountable by God.  Verse two adds, For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.  He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, who should have been following God as His chosen people but were worshipping idols instead.  Ahaz made molten images of Baal to worship.  It would be a shame if lost people, or even others who profess to be Christians, looked to others who profess to be Christians for guidance, and we led them to put their faith in anything other than Jesus Christ alone.  Verse three continues, Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  He worshipped these idols in the valley of Hinnom, following the abominations of the heathen and he went even further by burning his children in sacrifice to Moloch.  When people begin to serve other gods, there is no end to how depraved they may become, even if at one time they had called themselves Christians.  Being a Christian in name only will never save us and may even lead us to actions that are totally against God.  Verse four concludes, He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. Not only did he make images of Baal to worship, but he worshipped in the high places thinking this would make him closer to God.  We will find God wherever we are as followers of Christ, whether in the valley or on the mountaintop, because the Holy Spirit indwells us.  Verse five states, Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.  Since Ahaz didn't follow God, God removed His protective hand from him, and the king of Syria defeated the people of Judah and carried away many captives, including Ahaz.  If we turn away from God, we set ourselves up for defeat.  If we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are forever His, but that doesn't mean we will never suffer spiritual defeat in this world if we have strayed away from His guidance.  Verse six adds, For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.  Being a valiant man of Judah did not bring them success, because they had turned away from God.  We may be brave people today as Christians, but if we turn away from God, we will no longer have His protective hand on us.  One hundred and twenty thousand of the brave men of Judah were killed in one day.  Verse seven continues, And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. Those who weren't taken away captive by the Syrians were still not safe, since the people of Israel went to war with them, killing Ahaz's son, Maaseiah, Azrikam the governor, and Elkanah who was said to be next to the king.  Though the people of the world thought they had killed our King, Jesus Christ, He still lives and will reign forever and we need to be known as people who are spiritually close to Him, even if we were to be carried away captive or killed by those who oppose Him.  Verse eight concludes, And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.  Two hundred thousand women and children were taken away captive to Israel and a lot of bounty was taken to Samaria.  When the people of Judah turned away from God, He removed His protection from them and in spite of their numbers, they were defeated.  We we turn away from God as individuals or as a nation, He may no longer protect us.