“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” (2 Kings 20:1)
Sickness comes to kill, but not always us. This sickness was "Unto death," but it wasn't Hezekiah who would die but rather some things in Hezekiah. Things like pride, dependency on man, to name a couple. So it is with us, the Lord allows sickness, weakness, hurt, and trials that are unto death to come into our life, yet it may not be that you have to die. Perhaps the death blow can be delivered by that sickness to those things in your life that need to be destroyed.
Hezekiah had an issue with pride. 2 Kings 32:25 tells us that “His heart was lifted up, therefore there was wrath upon him.” During this time before his humbling, he had great storehouses of wealth and depended upon his ability, wealth, and connections to get him where he wanted to go. That is a trait that certainly has to die in the Christian. Hezekiah sat on the throne that was given to him by God; all his treasures were benefits of this position, and all his connections came from what God had given him as well. That is how foolish pride is; pride can only see self and no further. A person filled with pride can’t see the hand that has lifted them up, fed them, and made them what they are today. They suppose that it was some great thing they have done. Pride is not only foolish but presumptuous; they assume that life will always carry on as it is, but it won’t, especially for God’s people. God will either kill the pride in you or kill you. The sickness unto death is coming for blood. Like Hezekiah, you can humble yourself and live, or you can die in your pride, but rest assured a sickness unto death isn’t leaving without having killed one of the two. “Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.” (Proverbs 18:12)
Today would be a good day to follow the instruction of the prophet and the example of Hezekiah. Isaiah's instruction was "Set thine house in order," and Hezekiah followed this instruction to the nth degree. He not only set his house in order but his heart; not only was his face turned to the wall but to his God in prayer. He humbled himself and was delivered from death. Set your heart in order, then the home will follow. Perhaps, like Hezekiah, the dial can be turned back on your appointment with death. Call on Him today, deliver your pride, or whatever it may be, to the chopping block, and let this sickness unto death kill what's killing you.
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