Baasha and living wrong

Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

1 Kings 16:2-4

            There is an old saying amongst the brethren: you cannot live wrong and die right. We often say this to get the point across that a life of sin, while it may seem fun and entertaining, will end with eternal damnation. Yet many live a life of self-gratification, and when they pass we are faced with the question, “Where will so-and-so spend eternity?” The answer is obvious if we will only look at the Word of God. 

            We can see that Baasha, King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was like the wicked leaders of his day and every age. He was a king. He had power, and he walked in the ways of Jeroboam. The Lord brought the charge against him that it was he that made the people to sin and that provoked the Lord, yet we know that Baasha did not overtake the peoples’ free-will.  Just as Jeroboam made Israel to sin by creating golden calves and providing a means for that sin, we can understand that Baasha also supplied a way for the people to sin. Evil kings certainly provide more opportunity for evil. Is it surprising that God would judge Baasha according to his deeds? The Lord had every right to hold Baasha accountable. After all, he had the same Law of Moses that was handed down on Sinai. Thus, God was justified in removing him and his entire wicked household. How could God not hold him accountable? 

            In the New Testament we are reminded that God, while abundant in grace that is offered to all men, still holds men accountable for how they live. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10). God will judge the bad; he will judge the good. He will even judge those who think they are good, told they are good, and are eulogized as good. Brethren, one cannot live wrong and die right. So, while we still have a breath in our mortal bodies, let us strive to become more like Christ. If you are not a Christian,  it is certain that you will be judged a goat (cf. Matt. 25:31-34). So I implore you to obey the Gospel while you still have time. 

Grace and Peace,

Ryan