In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”‘” (2 Kings 2-:1-6)

My insurance agent—the actuary prophet, informs me that at 62, fifteen years is the statistical remainder of my days. This authoritative word registered with me. I vigorously began setting my house in order. A few friends, seeing my burst of energy, asked if I hadn’t received a bad prognosis. I quickly set the record straight; I told them I wasn’t dying. But later I realized that wasn’t quite true. I am. In fact, we all are.

With the aid of a few wise counselors, I have been putting my house in order—gathering important information into one place. I have also been working to keep my Uncle Sam out of the estate. (His stewardship has not impressed me in the least.) And while it cannot be bindingly written into any trusts or wills, I am praying my heirs will be wise stewards in behalf of God’s kingdom.

Unlike Hezekiah, I haven’t asked God to add any years to my life. But I have asked him to help me make the most of the ones I have left. In part, my burst of energy is an answer to this specific prayer. I believe my recent flurry is also a result of God putting His house in order.

Each Christian is a dwelling place of God, a tabernacle of His presence. In our pre-Christ days our houses were vacant. However, when we asked Jesus to enter as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit took up residence in our hearts, making them His home. However, the Spirit as a mere occupant is a limiting idea. Something much greater than a tenant-landlord contract has been inked up between us and God.

When God enters the temple of our hearts, a joining of His Spirit and ours takes place. This is how we are born again. We don’t become His children through any activity; neither confirmation nor baptism makes us God’s children. We become His offspring through rebirth by faith. In His children, the DNA of divine origin is awakened; spiritually, we once again bear His image.

The original plan in Adam died in Eden. In Christ, it is resurrected wherever we live. As a tiny mustard seed, a new kingdom genesis has begun in the hearts of His children—it is the very life of God. Our foundational makeup has been restored. Our hearts, the wellspring of life, have been purified. Living water is now in us! God puts His house in order by placing His kingdom in us, in Christ. His kingdom has come and is coming. God is always putting His house in order.

Hezekiah reminds us we are all mortally ill. We may pray for additional years and get them, but they are to no avail unless our houses are in order. We begin by making sure God’s life is in us. Are we born again? We maintain our hearts by recognizing His kingdom is within us. Is Jesus our Lord? Whatever time we have left is a sacred thing. God has entrusted this time to us for the sake of His kingdom—a realm outside of time.

Father, drain away our tears of bitterness. May your life flow from our inner most being. Whatever the cost, put Your house in order that we may present to You hearts of triumphant wisdom. Defend our hearts for Your sake and for the sake of Your kingdom. Amen.

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