Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days

“But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.” - 1 Kings 15v14

Asa was the son of Abijah and grandson of Jeroboam. His great-grandfather was Solomon. Three generations of kings before him had turned for worshipping the true God to their false idols. He grandmother had set up an obscene image of the god Ahserah. He certainly did not have a godly heritage.

In spite of this, Asa returned to the ways of his great-great-grandfather David. He had a heart that was loyal to the Lord all his days. He tore down the idols and returned to the nation to the worship of Jehovah. However, he did not tear down the high places where false worship took place. He did not do the job completely.

David and Asa both had hearts for the Lord, but they both failed to serve God with absolute perfection. David had his sin with Bathsheba and Asa did not get rid of the worship places. Even a heart for God is not going to bring about absolute perfection. That kind of perfection only comes through the indwelling Christ.

A good and loyal heart is not enough. Only Christ can make us perfect and only in Him.