Not So Dearly Departed

"And he departed with no one's regret." -2 Chronicles 21:20 (ESV)

Such is the testimony about Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah.  He became king when he was 32 years old.  He was 40 years old when he died.  He died from an incurable bowel disease, which was in reality a judgment from God because Jehoram led the people of Judah into gross idolatry.  If that wasn't bad enough, the people didn't like him.  I'm sure he was a tyrant, along the line s of Herod the Great.  (Herod had arranged for many people to be executed when he died so that the people would be sure to mourn on the day of his death.)  When Jehoram died, "the people made no fire in his honor," nor did they bury him "in the tombs of the kings" (2 Chronicles 21:19-20).  They were glad to see him go.

What about you?  What will people say about you after you're gone?  Will they miss you?  Have you become offensively odious to all around you?  Will you die with no one's regret?

If you answer "no" to that last question, then fantastic!  What a blessing to have that knowledge!

If you answer "yes," don't panic just yet.  There is hope for you.  Don't make the same mistakes that Jehoram made.  Let me urge you, with whatever time you have left on earth (only God knows), to reverse the curse that you have become.  Instead of demanding the sun, moon, and stars, be a generous giver.  Invest in the lives of the people around you.  Give them your time and genuine care.  Do what is right.  Don't even give the appearance of evil.  Sure, people will be extremely skeptical for a while, but in time, if you persevere in doing what is good, you will prove your sincerity.  One more thing--you can't do it alone.  Ask God to forgive you for all those years of rebellion against Him.  Then ask those you have offended for forgiveness.  It's a tough step, but its worth can't be measured.  Then ask God to change you into a person who will be greatly missed when it's your time to die.

God help us all!