THE PROMISE FOR LIFE!
Text: II Kings 20:1 thru 6
Isaiah brought the message from the Lord to Hezekiah. It was a warning for Hezekiah to “set his house in order”, because he was not going to recover from his illness. This was the worst news anyone will ever be told.
Hezekiah was a good man but also a very sickly man. His father had also died at an early age.
Hezekiah was a very good king.
The proof of is found in 2 Kings 18:1-8:
a) He did what was right in the sight of the Lord – V3
b) He trusted in the Lord – V5
c) He held fast to the Lord –V6
d) He kept God’s commandments –V6
e) The Lord was with him – V7
g) He rebelled against the King of Assyria – V7
h) He subdued the Philistines – V8
Hezekiah was a good man & good king.
But he has become ill and about to die. Some may find it difficult to understand why bad things happen to good people.
In our text, Hezekiah’s response was immediate and he prayed with the possibility that things could be worked out with the Lord. Hezekiah did not want to end up like his father.
Some of us here, this morning, know what has happened to other people who have gone on before us. Their illnesses and/or their mistakes. We have seen (all too clearly) the mistakes that other people who are near to us have made.
We are in some ways just like Hezekiah. We don’t want what has happened to those other people to happen to us.
In spite of the bad news given to Hezekiah (by the prophet Isaiah), there were other options for him than to just give up and die.
Prayer can change things for anyone.
Obviously, Hezekiah wasn’t ready to die. He wasn’t ready to succumb to his sickness, or to just give up and die.
Earlier in his life, Hezekiah had submitted to the Lord and become a changed man. I am certain that he still had faults of his own. But Hezekiah also knew that he had many more things he had hoped to accomplish for the kingdom of God.
Hezekiah was in a place of great responsibility with God’s people. And he knew that if he were to die, there would be no one else to take over for him and take care of the children of God.
This is where I find each of us today. Whether you are healthy or not, perhaps you are frightened of (eventually) having to face the thought of death.
Nevertheless, God has given each of us THE PROMISE FOR LIFE!
Jesus is THE PROMISE FOR LIFE!
Aren’t you glad that the Lord has -
· A much better plan for your life than to just give up and die?
· Given you an option - when it comes to His eternal judgment?
The fact of the matter is that God has told all of mankind (in His Holy Word) that without Jesus Christ the sinner will be sentenced to an eternal death.
But thank God, there are other options for all sinners.
The Bible says that it is not God’s will that “any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
(II Peter 3:9)
Some have tried to turn this story of Hezekiah’s into a theological debate about the will of God.
Some have referred to this story as a case against the word and the will of God.
They question whether or not God will always do what He says He will do.
Some have argued that God’s will/can change His mind in special situations.
They say that perhaps, God isn’t always able to keep His word true.
Some have said (after reading this) that God will someday rethink His decision about judging and condemning the sinner for his/her sins.
I don’t agree with this thinking at all!
Let me tell you that there are many more scriptures to consider about the character of God than just one story.
Bottom line is what Hebrew 13:8 says. God is - “…the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Church, God never changes His mind.
He only causes you and I to change our minds.
QUESTION: How many have had God change their mind?
On the other hand - How many have ever known God to change His?
Let me share with you what the Lord has recently shown me in this story:
Many folks (this morning) are convinced they are at the end of their rope.
They say, “All is lost!”
They are convinced that they are doomed and life is almost over for them. They have lost all hope.
Perhaps, they have even been told by people they respect that their situation is completely hopeless.
Example:
A Bible student from North Central Bible College recently shared with Marjorie and I how they had recently gone on an Evangelistic Outreach to New Orleans.
This student told us of how there are many well meaning Christians taking the gospel to this ungodly town.
Most of them mean well, but some have become mean with the Gospel. They are not explaining the plan of salvation as a way to save their lives. Rather, they are screaming judgment and condemnation.
While it is true that sinners (without Christ) will die and go to hell, it is equally important for them to also hear there is -
THE PROMISE FOR LIFE.
With Christ, our fate is not death.
Rather, it is the mercy of God granting to us THE PROMISE OF LIFE.
Some people, today, are convinced (like Hezekiah) that all is lost.
Things are hopeless.
They only see their personal problems.
Someone once spoke about our personal problems being not nearly as bad as we think they are. The comparison was made that each of us ought to find an article (from our home) to represent each of our personal problems.
And then bring that article to church.
Imagine (if you will) if we all did this one Sunday morning. We would pile all of these articles (that represented our personal problems) up front where everyone could see each other’s problems.
Sounds like that might help us all…???
It was said that if that were to happen that after each of us could see everyone else’s personal problems that we would then go back to the pile, and pick out our own problems, and quietly take them back home with us.
My friend, if you have Jesus, all is not lost. Don’t you dare give up!
Our story tells us that the first thing Hezekiah did when he got the bad news-
“…he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD…”
Why did he turn his face to the wall?
He needed time alone with his Lord. He was so sickly that he wasn’t able to get out of his bed and go to his prayer closet.
Hezekiah knew that he must close himself off from anything or anyone else (including the Prophet, Isaiah) and seek the Lord for help.
We need to be like Hezekiah. Yes the news we have heard may sound really bad, but God is able to hear our cries for mercy. I gotta’ know that for myself.
The next person who comes to me may just be the bearer of bad news, but I can always “…turn my face toward the wall, and pray to the LORD…”
My friend – you always have God to turn to. At any moment. It may even be your last moment. But you still have God!
The fact is God usually gets more done with anyone of us when we cannot see anyway out of our problems.
God’s got you in the palm of His hand.
Don’t be the one who is convinced that all is lost.
Some folks only see & hear the bad news.
But (on the other hand) there are some who are convinced that they will live forever. They seldom (if ever) consider when they will die. They live in denial.
One thing I noticed about this story is that the prophet Isaiah may have told Hezekiah that he was going to die.
But I am not so sure that Isaiah knew (at first) exactly when Hezekiah would die.
I am not so sure that when Hezekiah would die was that important to Isaiah.
But I can tell you what was important in this story. Are you ready?
Read verse 1.
Listen, when you will die is not nearly as important as -
“…setting your house in order…”
God’s message to you today is not about death, it is about –
· “…setting your house in order…”
· hearing THE PROMISE OF LIFE spoken to you by the prophet of the Lord.
Aren’t you glad that no one has told you when you are going to die?
But the question is –
· What are you going to do for the Lord before you do (eventually die)?
· Will you take the Lord more seriously and repent of any wrongdoing?
· Will you determine yourself to finish the calling God has on your life?
· Will you just give up and let death destroy you and what the Lord has planned for your life?
· Will you “…turn your face to the wall and pray to the Lord…”
· Will you begin today to “…set your house in order…”
My friend whatever you decide to do, God will know it immediately.
Notice in verses 4 and 5 how quickly the Lord responded to the tears of Hezekiah.
Your calling out to the Lord is instantaneous. God hears you!
God extended THE PROMISE FOR LIFE to Hezekiah. God extended His hand of mercy to him & gave him 15 more years!
This was Hezekiah’s PROMISE FOR LIFE!
And during those 15 years, God did as He promised. God delivered the city from the hands of the enemy (the Assyrians). As a result of what God did in Hezekiah’s life, there was unity among the people of God. (You can find that in II Chronicles chapters 30 and 31.)
After the unity, then came a revival for all of God’s children.
Listen - 2 Chrn 31:20-21
20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.
The warning that came to Hezekiah (by the Prophet Isaiah) radically changed his whole perspective on life. God delights in taking our bad news and turning it into His Good News. THE PROMISE FOR LIFE.
God’s answer was immediate and very definite.
a) I have heard your prayers – v5
b) I have seen your tears – V5
c) Surely I will heal you – V5
d) I will add to your days 15 years – v6
e) I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria – V7
