Two Years Tick

1 Kings 15:15,16

Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the ways of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

What happened in your life in the last two years? That’s 730 days or around 180 weeks. Scanning through the archives of my memory bank now, the big list says our family transfer here in Cebu, the kids homeschooling, the GCoMM conference I attended in Singapore, coordinating the Musaic worship conference after that, the vacation treats to Boracay and Plantation Bay, my work experience as Assistant Prod Manager for Hillsong Concert last year, the cantata I conducted the other Easter, the workshops I taught, and yes, this devotional blog. Of course the bad list, quite a lot of bullets there, is not for public consumption, hehe. Now, the next question is, if my life stops here, with both lists in God’s hands, will he categorize me under David’s line, or Jeroboam’s? Praise God for grace, in faith I’m with the royalties. But rewards? That's the deliberation part, hehe :>

Nadab’s was filed under Jeroboam. That’s logically predictable, for parents are every child’s foremost models. Asa, the king down south, represented those other kids who disapproves their dad’s wrongdoings and vowed to be differently better. In the 8 verses allotted Nadab, only two things were said about his two year reign: his ways caused Israel to sin and he was backstabbed by a fellow Israelite while besieging a Philistine town. And as prophesied by Ahijah, there was no decent burial for him nor his royal brothers, who were also murdered by Baasha, the one succeeding him as king. There was nothing refreshing or good or inspiring in his life. His’ was written more as a warning, a what-not-to-do flashing signal for us watching his life.     

How was your last two years? How do you plan your next two? What's in our bucket list - - to explore the world, pursue life’s pleasures and give in to our cravings? My funny, diabetic lola, whenever caught eating sweet treats had this script: ‘I’ll die anyway. At least I’d die full and happy’. And yes she did. She died. My tita said she last saw her taking an afternoon merienda (soda and pastries!) and went to sleep. Of course that’s a miniature example to our point here. Ecclesiastes encourages us to ‘Remember our Creator.. before the dust returns to the ground and the spirit returns to God who gave it. He will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.’ He will soon separate the lambs from the goats: those that believed His Son from those who disregarded His saving grace, those who pleased Him all their ways from those who lived life for themselves all their days. Which side are you filed in? What if we really have two years left in the hourglass to have that ticket and rewards for eternity, will you take it? Will you be willing to live each day for Him? Clock is ticking!