There is a story in II Kings 20 about a king named Hezekiah. Hezekiah was ill and was about to die. He knew that he was dying because Isaiah, the prophet, came to him and told him that the Lord had declared that he would die.
When Hezekiah heard the news, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. In his prayer he told God how he had walked in truth and had a perfect heart. He told God that he had done good, and then he cried.
As Isaiah was leaving the palace, he received a message from God. God told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that he had heard his prayer and had seen his tears. Because of this, Hezekiah would live another fifteen years. God even promised to deliver him and the Israelites out of the hands of the Assyrians.
Hezekiah was healed, but he insisted on a sign from God that He would do what He had promised. Isaiah spoke to God on behalf of Hezekiah, and God granted the request.
While this was going on, the king of Babylon sent Hezekiah a present and letters because he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Those that took the gifts to Hezekiah were invited in and were shown everything in his house. He showed them his silver, gold, spices, precious ointment, armor, and all of his treasures. The scripture says, “There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not” (II Kings 20:13).
When Isaiah heard what happened, he went to see Hezekiah and asked him what he had shown the men. Hezekiah told Isaiah that he had not withheld anything from him. Isaiah’s response was that there would come a day when everything would be carried away into Babylon. Even Hezekiah’s sons would be carried in Babylon and serve in the king’s palace.
This story made me think about Isaiah’s question to Hezekiah, “What have they seen in thine house?” So is the question to us today, “What do people see my house?”
What would people see behind the closed doors of our homes? Would they see beautiful artwork? Would they see valuable jewelry—diamonds, rubies, and pearls? Would they see expensive furniture, expensive cars, furs, money hidden away in a safe?
Maybe they would see our beautiful daughters and handsome sons. Maybe they would see certificates of accomplishment on the walls of our offices.
What would people see in our church homes? Would they see beautiful furnishings, boards that display large numbers in attendance or significant contributions? Would they see fancy fellowship halls used for extravagant events?
Are we like Hezekiah; and would we say, “there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them”?
After Hezekiah revealed what he had done, Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord.” This is the phrase so often used by the prophets when they wanted to warn of God’s displeasure or to tell of a future event.
Isaiah’s warning was that everything Hezekiah had would be carried away and become the treasures of their enemy, the Babylonians. Nothing that he prized so highly would be everlasting.
We have basically the same warning in Matthew 6. Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal” (Matthew 6:19).
If we are spending our time collecting physical treasures, we are going to be in for a big surprise. The physical things of this life will be destroyed or stolen. Paul told Timothy, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (I Timothy 6:7).
Jesus tells us, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth not rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).
Sandra Oliver