Looking in All the Wrong Places

by Tommy Peeler

During my growing-up years in Tennessee, there was the country song “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” The writer tells his story as one who desperately looked for romance, only to come up heartbroken. The song ends with the thought that the writer found love, and his search has ended.

Spiritually, this is also a story that many can tell. The title makes me think of King Ahaz, the king of Judah from c. 735-715 BC. He was an extremely wicked ruler (II Kings 16:1-4; II Chronicles 28:1-4). In his days, Judah was under attack from every direction (II Kings 16:5; II Chron. 28:5-6, 17-18) because of Ahaz’s sin (II Chronicles 28:5, 6, 19). However, even when we suffer because of our foolishness, God hopes that the experience will turn us back to Him. But instead of turning to God, Ahaz was guilty of looking for love in all the wrong places. He turned to the king of Assyria looking for help (II Chronicles 28:16). He even addressed words to the king of Assyria that he should have only addressed to the LORD God, “I am your servant and your son, come up and deliver me” (II Kings 16:7). But the king of Assyria did not help (II Chronicles 28:21). He turns to the gods of Damascus because they had helped their people, but they did not help him (II Chronicles 28:22-23). In the end, Ahaz turned in every direction for help except to the One who could help. When it came to the God who could have saved Ahaz, Ahaz closed the door of His house (II Chronicles 28:24).

Spiritually, are you looking for love in all the wrong places? There is only One to whom we can look who is in the right position to help and save. But the invitation to turn to Him is addressed to everyone (Revelation 22:17). You can look for love in the right place. You can look to the God who loves you (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 2:20) and can save you (Acts 4:12). If you look to Him and trust and obey Him, then your song will also have a happy ending.