Tag: did evil in God’s sight
He passed away–to no one’s regret
Scripture reading for April 27: 2 Chronicles 21-25
I have officiated at many funerals. Most have been fairly well attended and most have been for people who knew the Lord and had a Christian testimony. Sorrow is normal and mourning can go on for several months or more. Usually, if a person is a great leader or a person who has had public contact and great influence, the funeral is well attended and many kind words are said. I remember attending the funeral of a famous Christian musician and songwriter. The service was three hours long and the graveside service another half-hour! This man ended well and there were lots of people who were sad that he had departed. Of course, we all rejoiced that he was with the Lord for he had a strong Christian testimony.
But King Jehoram was a king of Judah who did evil in the Lord’s eyes. He married a daughter of the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. God raised up enemies who constantly caused trouble in Jehoram’s kingdom. Jehoram sought idols and built pagan shrines instead of seeking the Lord. The prophet Elijah sent him a letter that told him of his sins and the coming consequences. (2 Chronicles 21:12-15) This letter warned of God striking Jehoram’s family and then the king himself with a wasting disease of the bowels. Jehoram was unresponsive to God’s warning.
God aroused the Philistines and Arabs, and they attacked Jerusalem and carried off all of Jehoram’s sons but the youngest. Jehoram was afflicted with the disease of the bowels and he died in great pain. There is no record that he sought the Lord or tried to find help from God. When this king died, there was no big funeral or celebration of remembrance. No one mourned or was sad to see this king leave this world. “And he departed with no one’s regret.” (2 Chronicles 21:20)
How are you living your life? What kind of legacy are you leaving behind in your community and family? What will people say about you and your life when you pass from this earth? More importantly, what will God say about your life?
Cycles of Disobedience
Scripture reading for March 10th: Judges 1-5
My wife and I have always prayed for our children and grandchildren. We want them to experience a personal walk with the Lord and avoid the snares of Satan. Though our prayers are powerful, each child must still choose on his own to obey the Lord. Sometimes, children enter a cycle of disobedience where consequences, rather than parent or God, become their teacher. Many times, parents are too quick to bail their children out of consequences before the lessons are learned. Take a look at our heavenly Father’s parenting techniques in the book of Judges!
Through Joshua, the people had renewed the covenant commitment to fully follow God. (Joshua 24:15), but after the death of Joshua the people fell away. (Judges 2:8-11) This falling away was due to the failure of the next generation to learn faith and a failure of Joshua’s generation to live out faith. If we become engrossed in the culture around us, instead of in God and His word, failure always results. The Israelites did evil in God’s eyes by forsaking Him and turning toward the gods of the culture. As a result, they reaped the consequences of enemies plundering them and inability to withstand attacks on their land and families. (Judges 2:14-15) God allowed consequences to become their teacher!
The remedy for sin and rebellion is repentance. When the people of God recognized their sins, they would cry out to God for help. God was merciful and would raise up a judge to deliver them from their enemies. They would then have peace again under the wise leadership of a godly judge. When he or she passed from the scene, the cycle would repeat itself in the next generation! (Judges 2:16-19)
Today’s culture is no different and Christians must stick close to God, worshiping regularly. We need the power of the Holy Spirit living in us to stay victorious over Satan’s attacks. When we begin to mix with our culture and neglect the things of God, consequences of disobedience come upon us and we suffer. Our “Joshua” is alive, praying for us, and His body, the Church, is there to help us and give us victory! By staying close to God, we can live continuously in victory!