It's interesting to first read about the positive reforms King Asa made to Judah. It says his heart "was fully committed to the LORD all his life." But then the text goes on to say how he didn't trust in God for relief from political enemies and instead resorted to bribery. When God sends a prophet to set him straight, Asa holds a grudge. In a similar manner he refuses to turn to God for relief from his foot ailment--and this is in year 39 of his 41 years reigning. It sure sounds like a contradiction.
The People's Bible author points to other verses (20:32, 21:12, also see 1 Kings 15:11) and the fact that the people seemed to honor him as a great king at his death to conclude that Asa probably did ultimately die in faith despite his years of rebellion nearly right up to the point of his death.
That's an interesting question. Other parts of Scripture shed much light on God's still sinful yet fully redeemed people. Someone once pointed out to me that David is the only person in the Bible described as "a man after my own [God's] heart." (1 Sam. 13:14, Acts 13:22). But David committed adultery which then led to murder - certainly acts not reflective of God's heart. The "faith hall of fame" in Hebrews 11 lists several strong believers, fully redeemed and cleansed before God, who still had their recorded moments of weakness. Noah got drunk, Abraham slept with his wife's maidservant to "assist" God in fulfilling his promise to provide an offspring, Moses killed an Egyptian and made excuses to get out of God's call, David is again mentioned (and his shortcomings have already been noted). It's clear from the record of their lives that these faithful people struggled as Paul describes in Romans 7. They were sinners who needed to be saved. They are commended for their faith in God's promises, even though they are remembered for what they were - redeemed sinners. Because of Jesus, by faith we are already completely cleansed. But for us who have not yet received the reward of heaven, it appears as a future cleansing, for we still sin daily. That doesn't give us license to sin (Romans 6), but it reminds us that how God views us (already perfect because of Jesus) and what we still experience due to our weakness (nowhere near perfect) is too different things. God's promises, held to by faith, bridges the disconnect.
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