Pekahiah and What You will Be Remembered For

In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin. And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the castle of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites: and he slew him, and reigned in his stead. 2 Kings 15:23-25

Pekahiah the King of Israel reigned only two years. In that time, he did evil just as his predecessors. This is not surprising because he is but one in a long succession of evil kings. Like Shallum, there is not much said about Pekahiah. His reign was pretty insignificant in the books of history. He was evil and he was killed by a group of associates in a coup. He becomes like so many others even today.

Everyone wants to be remembered for something. Some, however, are remembered for just being evil and how they died. There are countless examples of men who committed atrocities against God and man, and they are remembered for their evil and how they die. In many of our states, capital punishment is the supreme penalty that the state can take against the most violent of offenders. In most cases in our news, we hear of a violent homicide, we hear of a trial, and then we wait. When a verdict is given and the death penalty is the result of sentencing, then a long and drawn out time of appeals occurs. In most instances, the death penalty is carried out years after the crime, long since it has been fresh on the minds of the average uninvolved person. When that day arises, the advocacy groups beg for a pardon from the governor and it makes the news. The criminal is remembered for his crime and the method of execution only.

Your life is important and forgiveness is available in Christ Jesus, but only if you will repent and turn. The Lord desires all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). However, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The death penalty is that which will be carried out and the only appeal. The only pardon that will be delivered is from Christ Jesus through obedience to the Gospel. Do not be remembered for the evil you did and how you died. Be remembered as one of God’s children.

Grace and Peace,

R.D. Beavers

Comments

Are You Uncomfortable With Sin?

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying, I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. — I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. To sum up this thought, if we want to get someone out of poverty, we need to make them uncomfortable with it. Think about it. If someone is in relative comfort, being taken care of by everyone else and not doing for themselves, then they will remain in poverty. If on the other hand, they have to rely more on themselves to get out of their situation, they may get ...

Can a Christian Celebrate a Secular Christmas?

Can a Christian celebrate a secular Christmas? This is a good question and one that deserves an honest answer. This week I read the following, “If you don’t talk about Jesus at Christmas time, you miss Jesus. If you do not sing those scriptural songs focusing on Jesus, you miss Jesus. You might have grown up in a church where “Christmas” was a “Jesus-free” day.” These were some accusations leveled against some brethren by a well-known preacher in our brotherhood. In this article, I wish to set the record straight on how it is rather simple to celebrate a secular Christmas and it not be a “Jesus-free” day. I contend that no day is “Jesus free” for a New Testament Christian. First, this brother accuses the church “of not knowing what to do with Christmas. They celebrate it in their homes, but avoid it at all costs in church.” I contend that the preachers who preach the whole counsel of God know what to do with...

Why Should I be Merciful?

Why should I be merciful? This is a question that you may not have asked yourself before. Maybe mercy is something that you are given often. For others, maybe we have forgotten the goodness of the mercy God has shown to us. Jesus said after all, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt.5:7) To answer the question, we must first define mercy. What is Mercy M ercy which comes from the word eleeo ( ἐ λεέω) and describes the act of showing compassion and pity on someone. God perfectly exemplifies mercy. Paul recognized the mercy that God showed him while he sinned in ignorance. I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy , because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Faith...

Ironworks

Search This Blog