Good morning
What might people say about you today, if they were to sum up your life? Does the description include that you lived for Jesus Christ? Are you a shining example for Christ wherever you go?
2 Chronicles Chapter 21 teaches us practical lessons on how to spend our life here wisely and leave good footprints on earth. Someone said the greatest footprint one can ever leave on earth is the footprint of good deeds and living to leave a great mark on the minds of people.King Jehoshaphat, who served the Lord and the people of Judah wholeheartedly, had many sons. He planned his family’s wellbeing very well. Before his death, he settled each of his sons by giving each a city of his own and much wealth, so that none lacked anything. But the throne he gave to his firstborn son, by name Jehoram as a right (vs 1-3).
Jehoram, in order to strengthen his stay in power, killed all his brothers, (except the youngest) and other noble personalities in Judah, including those he considered a threat to his power. Not only so, he married the daughter of the worst king of the Southern Kingdom, Ahab, and did much evil like him (vs 4-6).He lost some of his powers, because God was no longer pleased with him. Edom and Libnah succeeded in setting up their own kingdoms because God was involved in dealing with Jehoram (vs 7-11).
God in His love sent a great prophet, Elijah, who penned down his warning and sent it to this king, who has grown above advice or instruction (vs 12-15). Elijah, is his letter to Jehoram, warned him that he had not followed the good footprints his father Jehoshaphat left behind; that he had misled the people of Judah out of the ways of God like Ahab did and killed his own brothers, men who were better than him. As a consequence for the sin of Jehoram, the Philistines attacked Judah and took captive their wives and sons. Not even the type of sickness that God was going to inflict him with and the shameful death made him remember that life has no duplicate (vs 16,17).
After giving him opportunity to repent, God brought upon him a deadly and incurable stomach disease, which he suffered for two years before he died (vs 18,19).In 2 Chronicles 21:20, we read a striking remark about how Jehoram ended his life on earth saying, “…. He passed away, to no one’s regret (NIV)”. Other Bible translations says, “ …and departed without being desired (KJV)”; “…No one was sorry when he died (NLT)” and “ …No person was sad when Jehoram died (Easy to Read Version).”How will your life story end? What legacies are you leaving behind? At forty years, Jehoram ended his family tree in total shame. How old are you and have you spent so far your years wisely? BE WISE!
Imagine if when you died no one cared. That was what happened in Judah, when King Jehoram died. Jehoram had ignored the good examples of his father and grandfather, who were remembered for being devoted to God and doing good in His sight. Instead, Jehoram was remembered for his uncountable atrocities, to the extent that no one in Judah cried when he died.
Do you want to make your life count after your exit? Accept Jesus today as your Personal Saviour and you will begin to live a life that matters. 