Pam Padgett - teacher
Many think they can increase the time they live on this earth by eating
certain things,
doing a set amount of exercise, or "fighting" to overcome an illness by their own will. While thinking about this recently, I was reminded of Hezekiah ...
2 Kings 20:1 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 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto
the Lord, saying, 3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have
walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that
which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into
the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 Turn
again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus
saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I
have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou
shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add unto thy days
fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city
out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for
mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
Hezekiah didn't trust in his own ability. He turned to God and made his petition to God Who appoints our time on this earth, and did what he was given to do.