Well... That's Uncomfortable!

King Josiah then issued this order to all the people: “You must celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, as required in this Book of the Covenant.” [2 Kings 23.21] 

Question: then when? 

Answer: then after all that was done in 2 Kings 23.1-20 which started after Josiah read the Book of the Covenant (God's Word).

When Josiah was first presented with the Book of the Covenant (2 Kings 22.3-20), he read it and repented. Then what takes place in 2 Kings 23.1-20 begins with Josiah reading the Book of the Covenant to the people. What follows is a "house cleaning" of all things "idolatry."

There is great significance of the "house cleaning" being done before the Passover is celebrated. The Passover indisputably speaks prophetically and is representative of, Jesus.

The "house cleaning" (eradication) of all the idols and idol-related ways should not be interpreted in New Testament understanding as "works to be saved" because, the fact is, a person does not have to "clean up" in order to "take the bath" which is salvation. However! Every person must necessarily "get in the bathtub" which can best be seen in Jesus' encounter with a rich young man:

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. [Matthew 19.16-22]

So, the point is, there is a "letting go" necessary to follow Jesus. All who will may indeed come, but they must leave their baggage at the door! One cannot knowingly "hold on" to ways and things that do not please God and expect Jesus to coexist with them. "Coexist" is not in Jesus' vocabulary because it was never in His Father's vocabulary!

“You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. [Luke 14.33] 

It is neither ironic nor coincidental that Jesus' encounter with the rich young man is recorded in the Bible. It gives confirmation that no person simply "follows" Jesus without first deciding to "not follow" the ways of man, which, in God's brilliant Providence is seen in Jesus' encounter with the rich young man, and just happened to be about money. 

If we "follow the money" in our lives, we come face-to-face with our own idols - those things we resist letting go of. I am speaking directly about the idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology. Their financial hold on us is no different than the financial hold the rich young man's money had on him. Everything good in the rich young man's life was tied to money - he simply would not let it go because he trusted it and feared life without it. Likewise, we spend inordinate amounts of money on debt, insurance, medicine and technology for fear of our lives without them. Money's hold then on the rich young man is no different than the hold that debt, insurance, medicine and technology have on our lives today. Go ahead, say it isn't so... But Jesus was even more exclusive in His demands:

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [Matthew 10:39 (also Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33 and John 12:25] 

Because the rich young man trusted his money, Jesus demanded that it must be given up before the man could be a Christ-follower. 

How have modern "Christians" have come to the place that they trust the things money buys? Pay attention and you will see...

"Has God really said, "You must not have any other god but me."?"

The same trick-question tactic Satan asked Adam and Eve, "Has God really said...?" that prepped them for his outright lie that followed (that they would not die if they disobeyed), is the same tactic Satan has duped the Church with today. It sounds like this: 

"Has God really said "You must not have any other god but me"? Everyone knows that God gave debt, insurance, medicine and technology because you simply cannot make it without them."

It might be different if debt, insurance, medicine and technology were NOT the incredibly lucrative enterprises they are today, all at the great expense of man's greed, fear, impatience and laziness. Should we just ignore the fact that all these things oppose everything God teaches? Satan says, "Yes, that's exactly what you should do - after all, it makes sense."

Jesus, on the other hand, says, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

Idolatry has to go. Otherwise, Jesus has no throne upon which to reign singularly in our lives (You must not have any other god but me).

Most of us know the song, I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, but how can anyone sing that song and decidedly still hold on their idols? (HINT: They can't.) It might then be argued, "If this is true, is anyone really saved?" Jesus has already provided the answer:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Well... that's uncomfortable!

Father, may the truth of Your Word pierce our hearts and souls today. May we be found repenting and "letting go" (or better, "getting rid") of the idols that money buys so that we might be "taken in" as followers of Jesus. So be it.