"A Wasted Life" July 2 Readings: 2 Chronicles 21-22, Acts 7:1–18, Psalm 78:40–46, Proverbs 16:17–19

Today's Readings - 2 Chronicles 21-22, Acts 7:1–18, Psalm 78:40–46, Proverbs 16:17–19

Devotional - A Wasted Life

Have you ever thought about what you want on your tombstone? Is there some brief, pithy statement that encapsulates your life? People want their lives to matter, their obituaries to be meaningful, their tombstones to be significant.

Ecclesiastes tells us that God has put eternity in our hearts. We have a deep, inborn, innate desire for our lives to matter, to do something that makes a difference, so that when we are gone we will be remembered and that the impact and effect our lives will continue.

But all too often our desire for eternal significance is squandered by our devotion to the things of this world - materialism, self-centeredness, lust, devotion to pleasure - or our lives of unholiness and sin. There are many, even among the redeemed, who fail to live their lives for the glory of God.

There is a troublesome verse in 2 Chronicles 21:20, concerning the death of King Jehoram of Judah, the son of Jehoshaphat. His father was a very good king who made an unfortunate alliance with evil King Ahab of Israel. He even allowed his son to marry Ahab's daughter. To no one's surprise, Jehoram followed the ways of the kings of Israel and did not serve Yahweh as his own father had. After 8 years as king, he died. Here is what was said of him.

He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one's regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Wow. He died "with no one's regret." Jehoram was an evil king who did evil things and when he was gone it was to "no one's regret." No one cared. They were glad he was gone. His life was wasted. 

Jehoram was an extreme case, of course, and usually, even the most pointless life is met with someone's regret. But we must invest our lives in eternal things so that they will leave a lasting legacy of spiritual effect. 

I was only a boy when my grandfather died. He was a pastor, seminary professor, and Baptist leader. I remember at his funeral how person after person came up to my mom and dad and spoke of what a difference grandpa had made in their lives. He died in 1965 but his life did not end there. It went on in the lives of those he influenced. 

That is the kind of life I want. I don't much care what is on my tombstone, but I want my life to impact others who will carry on the work of Christ when I am gone. 

Father, may my life be used for your glory and the purposes of your eternal kingdom!

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

If they wrote an obituary about you today, what would it say?
Would it speak of the eternal, significant, Christ-honoring aspects of your life?
We ought not to live morbidly, but we ought to constantly remind ourselves that this world is temporary and eternity awaits.