and the One who walks with me on it.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Life Extension


      or Fifteen Days to Christmas

       What are fifteen years of your life worth?  I’m guessing most people would say they are priceless, but especially those who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses.  Imagine being told, “You have 3 months to live…” Most people would be going through a range of intense emotions and would not want to die.  We want to see our children grow up, be married, have grandkids…we all have things we hope to see and experience in the future.  When suddenly our future won’t exist, the world crashes around our heads and we cry out to God- help us oh Lord!

In those days Hezekiah was sick to death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, So says Jehovah, Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.  And he turned his face to the wall and prayed to Jehovah, saying, O Jehovah, 2Kn. 20:1,2
And I will add fifteen years to your days… (v.6)

       God did a miracle and sent the sun back ten steps.  Hezekiah was assured of God’s healing and lived wisely ever after… well, not really- he was human after all.  Actually, he invited a group of Babylonians on a tour to show off all the treasures of his kingdom (v.13), an unwise move after which Isaiah told him his sons, all the treasures and ‘his house’ will be taken away to Babylon.  Not exactly the best way to spend the blessing of an added fifteen years.

       It’s not like we unwisely make decisions without consulting God first…

       God has surely blessed us with every day that we live and we should live it to the fullest, obeying the things He wants us to do.  Our lives are supposed to bring Him glory (1Pt. 4:11), but how can they do that if we just do our own thing.  We should learn from many of the historical events in the Bible- ask the Lord first, do what He says, and all will be well.  So fifteen days or fifteen years, people will remember our love for the Lord and want to be a part of His kingdom.