Topic: A Wasted Life [Saturday September 2, 2017]
Text: 2 Chronicles 21:12-20
Key Verse: “Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings” (2 Chronicles 21:20).
Mark Twain, became morose and weary of life. Shortly before his death, he wrote; “A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle… they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow… those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last—the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them – and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence, …a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.”
The name Jehoram means, ‘Jehovah is exalted’. So, what brought a man with such a noble name to be identified as a man whose death ‘nobody regretted’? From the text, it’s a pity that Jehoram followed Ahab’s (father in-law’s) wicked ways instead of the more godly ways of his own father and predecessor, King Jehoshaphat. Further, the Scriptures add that he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.
He forsook the God of his ancestors and slid into idolatry which spread across the nation. The events that marked his death signified that his departure was not regretted by the people of Israel. It’s sad to note that a man like Jehoram who had a pious father and godly heritage could not live right or follow a godly pattern. It is important to realize that sin, like a cord, can bind anyone who is not careful and watchful. There’s therefore no such thing as unconditional eternal security.
The consequences of sin are always painful as seen in the life of King Jehoram, fallen contemporary Christian leaders and atheist like Mark Twain who also said: “Let us endeavour so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry”.
Thought for the day: Only what we have done will count for eternity.
Bible Reading in one Year: Leviticus 5-7
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
