GOOD NEWS

By John Stenen In 2 Kings 20: you can read about King Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery. He was twenty-five when he became king of Judah and reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. He was a good king and sought to please God. He worked hard to destroy all the idol worship and turn the people’s hearts back to the Living God. When faced with great danger coming against Judah from invading armies, he looked earnestly to God for help and God would give Hezekiah victory.

However, a time came when Hezekiah became deathly ill and the prophet Isaiah was sent by God to visit the king and give him this message. “Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” Rather than feel sorry for himself, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, (shutting out everybody and everything). He cried unto God in all earnestness and he wept. Before Isaiah even got out of the courtyard, God again spoke to Isaiah and said, “Go and tell the king that I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.” God then granted him fifteen more years.

When is the last time that we Christians have earnestly prayed for all the lost that we pass by everyday? When is the last time that we have genuinely wept for them and had the courage to share the gospel with them. May God save us from a tearless, keep the good news to myself religion. God bless.