by Brad Boyles
There is a simple question with a simple answer. What’s the cost? When you look at the way you are living your life, what is it costing you? For Jehoram, the life he chose to live cost him a lot. Herein lies the problem with life, in general. The truth is, we will pay regardless. You will experience trouble in this life… it’s guaranteed. All of us will suffer and all of us will die one day. Yes, it’s a bit discouraging, but it’s reality. So, we must first understand that trouble is inevitable regardless of our decisions and behavior. The problem with Jehoram was that his nearsighted lifestyle intensified his suffering and loss. He lacked wisdom. Let’s review…
- He suffered great military losses
- His country was overrun
- His capital was seized
- His belongings were plundered
- His wives were kidnapped
- He lost all his kids but one
- He died of a horribly painful disease
- He was buried with absolutely no honor
That’s a pretty high cost for the type of lifestyle he decided to live. I would imagine that when he got to the end, Jehoram realized just how much of his life he had wasted. It’s a tragedy because most people do not realize this truth until it is too late. Even worse than this list of worldly consequences are the eternal ramifications of our rebellion against God. All of us are prone to nearsightedness. Just like we love fast food and on-demand movies, our natural desires will always take instant gratification over patient progress. God asks us to place our faith in His Son, His Kingdom, and His timing. He asks us to trust with obedience even when it seems completely unnatural. He asks us to give over our entire lives for His sake. He implores us to patiently endure. Yes, there will always be struggles, but for those who endure by faithfully trusting in Jesus, glory awaits!