June 17

Each time I attend a funeral, not only do I spend time thinking about the deceased and wondering how the family of the deceased is dealing with their loss, but I also find myself reflecting upon my own mortality. Do you ever spend any time wondering how you will be remembered when you die? What would you like people to say about you at your funeral and to one another in their personal conversations following your death? Is it not safe to assume that we all hope someone would be a little sad with our passing from this life?
King Jehoram of Judah had a godly example in his father, King Jehoshaphat (II Chronicles 21:12; 20:32; 22:9; I Kings 22:43). And Jehoram’s grandfather also followed the Lord diligently during the beginning of his reign (II Chron.21:12; 14:9-15:16; I Kings 22:43). In spite of his godly heritage, King Jehoram “abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors. He had built pagan shrines in the hill country of Judah and had led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to give themselves to pagan gods” (II Chron.21:10&11). Through the prophet, Elijah, the Lord pronounced judgment upon Jehoram (II Chron. 21:12-15). The Lord struck Jehoram with a severe intestinal disease and he died in agony. Listen to what Jehoram’s subjects thought of him when he died. “His people did not build a great fire to honor him at his funeral as they had done for his ancestors....NO ONE was sorry when he died” (II Chron.21:19&20).
The Proverb writer reminds us, “there is a way that seems right to man, but the end leads to death” (14:12; 16:25). And the apostle Paul adds, “the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23). “Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death” (Galatians 6:7&8). What’s odd is that people can be told that truth over and over and yet, they still ignore it. They still think they know what’s best for themselves. And they still reap the same results, time after time. Jehoram did life his way, alright. And he received the results of doing life his way. “No one was sorry when he died.” Let’s learn from the example of others (Romans 15:4) and choose to live life God’s way. We will also reap the results of that choice, and those results are out of this world, beyond anything we can imagine (I Corinthians 2:9).