From Bad to Worse

1 Kings 16:30

Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.

With ‘The Hobbit’ coming on screen next year, the LOTR fan-in-me made some necessary preparations. First step was to watch the trilogy again. It was amusing to have my kids sit with me considering I was still single when the first installment came out. Second step was to read the book. I wonder if Tolkien’s imagination brought him to envision his writings available in iTunes :>  Third step was to sign in for updates. Latest I got was that Frodo Baggins will be appearing again. A few more clicks and I was already on this actor’s movie database. It’s nice to see him soar before my very eyes from being ‘The Good Son’ to having ‘Happy Feet’ and there and back again in ‘The Hobbit’.  Now I’m all the more excited and so-looking forward for this no-doubt-better, two-part prequel :>  

King Asa probably had the same nostalgic time, but the bad kind. His reign began at the last years of Jeroboam. And now, thirty eight years after, he’s hearing another king, the seventh, being proclaimed in the north. Before his very eyes, he saw each one reign as bad as the first one. But this last two was quite different. Theirs have gone from bad to worse. Omri the father chose a hill and built a fortified city there to be the new capital. It was said to be a place with beautiful buildings, fine furniture and ivory inlays. They felt so highly-cultured like the Phoenicians who helped erect Samaria that they considered Jerusalem a peasant town. This pride soared higher when the Ahab the son stepped beyond his father’s mark, surpassing even Jeroboam, with a brag that those sins were trivial compared to his abominations. His marriage to the heathen Jezebel paved the way to Baal temple worship in Israel. This father and son tandem may have thought they made a significant mark, but in God’s eyes, theirs was all missing the mark. Nations around Israel may have high esteems for their growing wealth and influences, but in God’s eyes, they’re sinking down and deep.

The way of sinners is always downhill. Without regard for God, a man’s life can never grow better. We may see the wicked prospering, but it doesn’t mean their life is better. Do not be deceived that being unequally yoked with good looking and gentle-mannered unbelievers will lead you to a perfect life. Mind you, bad may appear good. Eve’s fruit looked yummy, and why do you think whores can seduce men? Anything and everything that does not give glory to God is not for God, thus, the real BAD. Next to bad is always worse. The only way to becoming better is to shift to God’s goodness, and to move towards it. Without God, the next generation of our family, our country, our world, will grow worse in their sins. Let us cut the rope now and lead them to knowing Christ. He is the only way to life. Someone once told me, the most nationalistic thing you can do for your country is to share the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers. We may not feel the urgency because like Samaria, we may not look wanting economically and politically. But in God’s eyes our nation is sinking deep.  His judgment is sure to come on the sinner’s side. Make that transfer to the Savior’s ship now. Call in your loved ones too. The worst is yet to come.