“The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” Isaiah 39:8
The story of King Hezekiah is befuddling. If you are familiar with the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, you know that Hezekiah’s righteous rule was heads and shoulders above that of other kings, many of whom were absolutely wicked. In fact, we read in 2 Kings 18:5, “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” And yet, the conclusion to Hezekiah’s story is both bizarre and disappointing. For we read that when envoys from Babylon visited, Hezekiah happily showed off “all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them” (2 Kings 20:13). Showing all Judah’s riches to a foreign empire would be like proudly inviting a thief into your home to see where you keep your most prized possessions. It’s hard to know what Hezekiah was thinking when he did his little “show-and-tell,” but given Scripture’s reference to “the pride of his heart,” you cannot help but think that it was driven by boasting. As a result, God sent Isaiah the prophet to let Hezekiah know that all the riches he so proudly displayed before the Babylonian envoy would be carried off as loot by Babylon itself. Such irony! Worse than that, his descendants, his “own flesh and blood,” would become “eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (2 Kings 20:18). What was Hezekiah’s takeaway when he heard that he’ll be ok, but future generations would end up in exile? “Better them than me!” That is the essence of Isaiah 39:8 above. As a father, my first thought is, “What is this guy thinking?” What he’s thinking is that his main concern is his own peace and comfort. If his sons after him fail, that’s their problem. As a father, and now a grandfather, such a self-centered mentality is disturbing. What do I want for my children, my grandchildren, except that they should grow deeper in Jesus and experience the riches of His blessings to a greater extent than I could have ever imagined! What does it matter if we have peace and security in our lifetimes, while leaving a legacy of godless, sinful selfishness for the next generation? It is for this reason that we, as Christ-followers, must not merely shrug our shoulders as social engineers subject our children to the dystopian confusion which places individual expression as the highest value and utterly rejects righteousness as defined by our Maker. This is not about culture wars or political ideologies, it is about helping the next generation see that there is truth outside of the modern self, there is meaning beyond the pursuit of selfish pleasures, and there is hope in the God who made us for the glories of His forever kingdom. We must teach our children about the hope we read of in Isaiah 40:31, the hope that follows on the heels of Hezekiah’s disappointing complacency, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” I see application here not only as a parent, but also as a member of a local expression of Christ’s church. It has been such a blessing, in recent years, to be part of a church approaching its 90th birthday that is experiencing revitalization. I recall being courted by a church planting guru while in seminary who asked, “why put up with all the baggage and resistance in an older congregation when you can just go plant a new church?” I also recall the question I asked in response, “So, do we simply give up on established churches?” I must confess, he was right about one thing…it is hard for a declining, older congregation to experience revitalization. The many who have invested sacrificially in our church for so many years know this to be true. However, I don’t think this church planter realized just how sweet it can be when God, in His mercy, takes such a congregation and infuses it with a renewed sense of Kingdom purpose, Gospel passion and love for God. Granted, everyone loves the “overnight success” story…while it’s still succeeding. Yet, how many of these stories end in disgrace? When growth in numbers surpasses growth in spiritual maturity, the results of such success can be disastrous. Yet, even a seasoned congregation who has worked and waited on the Lord for years before finally experiencing revitalization is not free from Hezekiah’s temptation—the temptation to self-satisfaction, complacency, and pride over what has been accomplished. What we must remember is that the point of the blessings of growth are not so that we can simply enjoy the fruit! God blesses His people with good things so that we can reinvest these talents for the sake of continued health, growth and vitality as we look to future generations. We must not give into a spirit of self-satisfied complacency. But we must, instead, keep our eyes on the prize…and keep pressing on. We should follow the model provided by Paul, a seasoned apostle, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). What was this prize Paul pressed on to attain? The enjoyment of his own successes? No! As we read in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” Paul knew what mattered was the legacy he left behind. Believers, let us live to leave a legacy. Let us not content ourselves with today’s victories, but let us keep growing, keep working, keep pressing on so that we will have a continuing impact for the Gospel until the day that Jesus returns.
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Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
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