Single Point of Failure

“Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.

Jehoiada lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130. He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple. But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.

Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s Temple. That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the LORD see what they are doing and avenge my death!””

2 Chronicles 24:2, 15-18, 21-22 NLT

http://bible.com/116/2ch.24.2,15-18,21-22.nlt

Joash was a great king as long as Jehoida was alive. But after Jehoida's death, Joash went downhill. Jehoida was like a father to him. Jehoida saved the Kings life as a child, taught him, put him on the throne, and advised him. Jehoida even picked the King's wife! Apparently they had a very close relationship. Unfortunately Jehoida was also Joash's only connection to God.

In engineering we talk about single points of failure. That is a system that could fail with the failure of a single part. For example consider the swing ride at the amusement park. There are four cables holding the swing up. If any one of those cables broke the swing would stay safe. There is no single point of failure there. However if those four cables all connect to a single joint at the top, that would be a single point of failure. If the one connector would break, you would fly to the ground. (BTW that's not how they are made!)

Jehoida was a spiritual single point of failure for Joash. Do you have one? If your pastor died or sinned grievously or renounced Jesus, would that scuttle your faith? If your parent died or sinned grievously or renounced Jesus, would that scuttle your faith? If the person that introduced you to Jesus or mentored you died or sinned grievously or renounced Jesus, would that scuttle your faith? If you answer yes to any of these questions, that person is a spiritual single point of failure and you are living with the same risk that Joash did. 

You must retrain you eyes and faith off the human and more on to Jesus. It is too risky. Just like you don't want to trust your physical life to a ride with single points of failure, you mustn't trust your spiritual life to people that are spiritual single points of failure. 

Dear Jesus show me where I have a spiritual single point of failure or where I am one for someone else. Help us fix that dangerous situation! Help us all to have our own relationship with you. 

Love you Tom