Lessons on Jehoram (4)—The Lord’s Assessment of Our Lives - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

[Jehoram] was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being regretted. And they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
2 Chronicles 21:20

Lessons on Jehoram (4)—The Lord's Assessment of Our Lives
The end of Jehoram's life is also God's assessment of it. A short reign of eight years, but what a terrible legacy! He killed his brothers, he did what is evil in the eyes of the Lord, Moab revolted, the priestly city of Libnah revolted, he led the people into idolatry, and his enemies went against him and took his possessions, even his wives and sons, except for Ahaziah his youngest and Athaliah his wife. Finally, he was struck with an incurable bowel disease and died of it in cruel sufferings. He died without being regretted and was given no honors, even in his burial: .

What testimony do we leave around us as we await the coming of the Lord? What will the Lord's assessment of our lives be? We cannot answer this question, nor did the apostle Paul try to answer it, but he said, "He that examines me is the Lord" (1 Cor. 4:4). Yet he knew what the Lord would reward: "Henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will render to me in that day; but not only to me, but also to all who love His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8).

Let us live in light of the Lord's final appreciation of our life. Now is the time to live for Him; tomorrow does not belong to us! "But encourage yourselves each day, as long as it is called today, that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb. 3:13).

May it be our heart's desire to give to the Lord the deepest joy of telling us with satisfaction, "Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy Lord" (Mt. 25:21).

Alexandre Leclerc