In Isaiah 38 we meet a man named Hezekiah. When he first enters the story, he is at the point of death. Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells Hezekiah to put his house in order; according to God, Hezekiah is sick unto death and he will not recover.
Hearing this troubling news, Hezekiah weeps bitterly and prays. Surprisingly, God changes his mind and adds fifteen years to Hezekiah's life. Even more, God causes the shadow cast by the sun to go backwards as a sign of his promise.
It's a remarkable story. I'm intrigued by the answered prayer. I'm fascinated by the miracle of the added years. I can't help but think about Hezekiah's startling recovery and the unusual shifting of shadows.
And beyond all of that, there is this: How would I live if I knew exactly how many years I had left? If God were to say to me today, "You have fifteen years left," how would that awareness affect my living? Or would it?
Hearing this troubling news, Hezekiah weeps bitterly and prays. Surprisingly, God changes his mind and adds fifteen years to Hezekiah's life. Even more, God causes the shadow cast by the sun to go backwards as a sign of his promise.
It's a remarkable story. I'm intrigued by the answered prayer. I'm fascinated by the miracle of the added years. I can't help but think about Hezekiah's startling recovery and the unusual shifting of shadows.
And beyond all of that, there is this: How would I live if I knew exactly how many years I had left? If God were to say to me today, "You have fifteen years left," how would that awareness affect my living? Or would it?
Honestly, I wonder about Hezekiah and this gift he has been given. We only have a few additional stories about Hezekiah, so we're free to speculate a little. Here's what I imagine.
I suspect that, for the first few days (maybe even for a few months), he was overwhelmed with gratitude for God's grace. He likely resolved to use his extra years well. People who go through crisis often talk about "a second chance" or "a new lease on life." And I suspect that's where Hezekiah started.
Then, I suspect that the gift of the extra years grew a little dim as time passed. It was probably easy to forget the crisis - and it was probably easy to forget the gift. Fifteen years is a long time. So I wonder if Hezekiah's zeal grew cold. New crises probably came up. Life went on. And I bet that he forgot a little of his earlier resolve.
Then, as more years passed, I wonder if Hezekiah began to wonder if God would really keep to his "fifteen-year pronouncement." Practically speaking, most of us live like we're going to live forever. I suspect that Hezekiah settled into that mode of thinking as his extra fifteen years neared an end.
I can't be sure about all of that, of course. In the next chapter of Isaiah, though, we meet a rather self-centered and self-assured Hezekiah. Normally, we think that we'll be changed by the big lessons that come our way, but sometimes those big lessons don't end up having a lasting impact.
What I am left with is an opportunity to think about my own life. I might have fifteen years left - or maybe fewer than that or maybe more than that. Whatever the actual number, those years are limited.
So here's my question: knowing that, how will I live? How will I live today? How will I live tomorrow? How will I live this week? How will I carry this gift that I've been given? What things will hold my attention? Who or what will receive my devotion? Is there a way to live so that this gift of life won't grow cold?
The Hezekiah story is a pretty good story. Passionate and sincere prayer is answered. God does a miracle: years get added to a life and the sun even changes course as a sign. Behind all of that, though, there is this crucial question: what did Hezekiah do with the added years?
God gives a great gift. And we're left to wonder how that gift will be used. We wonder that about Hezekiah. And we wonder that about ourselves . . .
I suspect that, for the first few days (maybe even for a few months), he was overwhelmed with gratitude for God's grace. He likely resolved to use his extra years well. People who go through crisis often talk about "a second chance" or "a new lease on life." And I suspect that's where Hezekiah started.
Then, I suspect that the gift of the extra years grew a little dim as time passed. It was probably easy to forget the crisis - and it was probably easy to forget the gift. Fifteen years is a long time. So I wonder if Hezekiah's zeal grew cold. New crises probably came up. Life went on. And I bet that he forgot a little of his earlier resolve.
Then, as more years passed, I wonder if Hezekiah began to wonder if God would really keep to his "fifteen-year pronouncement." Practically speaking, most of us live like we're going to live forever. I suspect that Hezekiah settled into that mode of thinking as his extra fifteen years neared an end.
I can't be sure about all of that, of course. In the next chapter of Isaiah, though, we meet a rather self-centered and self-assured Hezekiah. Normally, we think that we'll be changed by the big lessons that come our way, but sometimes those big lessons don't end up having a lasting impact.
What I am left with is an opportunity to think about my own life. I might have fifteen years left - or maybe fewer than that or maybe more than that. Whatever the actual number, those years are limited.
So here's my question: knowing that, how will I live? How will I live today? How will I live tomorrow? How will I live this week? How will I carry this gift that I've been given? What things will hold my attention? Who or what will receive my devotion? Is there a way to live so that this gift of life won't grow cold?
The Hezekiah story is a pretty good story. Passionate and sincere prayer is answered. God does a miracle: years get added to a life and the sun even changes course as a sign. Behind all of that, though, there is this crucial question: what did Hezekiah do with the added years?
God gives a great gift. And we're left to wonder how that gift will be used. We wonder that about Hezekiah. And we wonder that about ourselves . . .