Upside Down
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?” (II Kings 20:19 ESV)
Someone Else, or Later
While we might see that the terrible effects of our actions, our decisions, our attitudes will someday hit home, we mostly think it will hit someone else.
This is why we rarely consider the effects of our actions, decisions, and attitudes on the economy, the ecology, or history.
Hezekiah made a foolish decision concerning Babylon. He bragged to them about how much wealth his nation had. He showed off his power. And the Babylonian Envoys went back home and started planning the fall of Jerusalem.
When Isaiah warned Hezekiah about the future, the King thought it sounded ok.
Why not? The future would pay for yesterday’s mistakes.
But in truth, effects always have an effect.
Cause and effect. Just desserts. The end comes because of the means.
But for Christians, HE takes our effect on Himself. HE ate our just dessert. HE saves us from the terrible effects of our thoughts, words, and deeds.
And if you are thinking, “ok, then… I’ll let HIM carry that burden and do what I want!” then He is probably not doing it for you. Because the Love between us and Christ is both what stops us from saying that… AND is the reason He does it.
Someone else, yes: Jesus Christ. Some other time: on Calvary.