Two Reasons A Good Life May Be Snuffed Out Early

I’m gonna start out a little morbid today but stay with me…we’ll have a hopeful ending. 

I want to tell you about a few dark weeks back in 1997. On Sunday, August 31, my girls (ages 12 and 10) and I were driving to church—only 5 minutes away—I happened to turn on the radio and we heard that Princess Diana died in a car crash. All three of us sat in stunned silence. It was a terrible, sick feeling for a woman we didn’t know. We did know she seemed to be someone who had a heart for helping people. 

Six days later, September 5, we heard the news that Mother Teresa died, a woman who had served the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India for nearly seventy years. The world suddenly felt darker, less hospitable. 

Two weeks later, September 19, our family was driving out of our driveway and heard on the radio that Rich Mullins died in a car crash. The radical Christian musician who left fame and fortune to live on a reservation and teach music to Native American children had been taken home to Jesus at the age of forty-one. 

In three short weeks, three very public lives were snuffed out. No one can know the relationship each one had with Jesus. However, they were certainly people who gave of themselves and served in ways that made “traditionalists” keenly uncomfortable. I found myself asking, Why, Lord, were these bright lights taken from such a dark world? 

A Biblical Diana, Teresa, Rich 

Let me introduce you to a boy named Josiah whose heart was attuned to do what was right.  

“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” 2 Kings 22:2 

Perhaps Josiah learned what was right in the eyes of the Lord during last years of his grandfather Manasseh’s life, when the once wicked king’s heart returned to Yahweh. Perhaps Manasseh taught Josiah of their ancestor, King David. Unfortunately, Manasseh died when Josiah was six years old, never able to return his nation to Yahweh worship. His son–and Josiah’s father–Amon was as wicked as Manasseh had once been. He reigned only two years before his own officials killed him. The assassins placed eight-year-old Josiah on Judah’s throne. 

We’re not told anything about the early years of his reign, but during Josiah’s 18th year, he decided to “fix up” Yahweh’s Temple—and that’s when all heaven broke loose. 

“‘Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord…And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the Lord…Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple…” Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.’ He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him…‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.” 2 Kings 22:4-10 

Finders Weepers, Losers Reapers 

When King Josiah (now 26 years old) heard God’s Laws—the blessings of obedience and the curses for disobedience—he sent men to inquire of the Lord through the prophetess Huldah. Though Yahweh reinforces His coming judgment on Judah for their stubborn refusal to repent, He sends this reply through Huldah’s lips: 

“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’” 2 Kings 22:19-20 (emphasis added) 

Josiah’s response to God’s Word is staggering. Humble confession. Active repentance. Within a year (2 Kings 23:23), he destroyed every detestable altar on Temple grounds. Those on hills and high places throughout Judah. He even traveled into the land of Israel (northern tribes) that was exiled 150 years earlier to destroy the altar in Bethel! 

After destroying all pagan worship, he led his nation in TRUE worship by initiating a better Passover Feast than ever recorded in the days of the Judges or Kings (2 Kings 23:22).  

“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” 2 Kings 23:25 

So, Judah was all good now, right? If the historical records ended here, maybe we could convince ourselves that one great spiritual leader could turn around everyone in the nation—but we know it wasn’t true. The kings that followed led them easily back into their pagan worship. Why? How? 

God’s Grace to the Good Heart 

Josiah reigned in Judah for thirty-one years, which means he was thirty-nine when he died. Why did he die so young? Only God knows, but follow me into the last days of his life… 

“When Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, ‘What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.’ Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, ‘Take me away; I am badly wounded.’ So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.” 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 (emphasis added) 

Had Yahweh told Necho to hurry? I don’t know, but look at what Scripture DOESN’T say. Look at what history books reveal… 

Necho was in a hurry to help Assyria—because they were embroiled in a losing battle. A losing battle against Prince Nebuchadnezzar (only a few weeks before his father, King Nabopolassar, died). King Josiah’s attack delayed Pharaoh Necho and weakened Assyria’s forces, which was ultimately the downfall of the Assyrian Empire.  

Babylon Rising

This singular battle—and Josiah’s seemingly foolish act—was the beginning of Babylon’s rise to power. Also Nebuchadnezzar’s first real proof of military genius. It also began the dominoes of Judah’s exile. Soon after Nebuchadnezzar placed a puppet king in Jerusalem. Then just three years later harvested royal and noble boys to indoctrinate them into Babylonian society. This is when Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken captive. 

How could I suggest it may have been good for Josiah to die at Carchemish? Because it fulfilled God’s promises that came through the prophetess Huldah: 

“[The Lord said to King Josiah,] Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’” 2 Chronicles 34:28 (emphasis added) 

• Josiah was wounded in battle but delivered back to Jerusalem to be buried in peace.  
• Josiah died before Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and took the king’s grandsons and noblemen’s children. 

2 Reasons A Good Life May Be Snuffed Out Early 

The Book of Job teaches us explicitly that bad things happen to good people. It pulls us from the forest and trees to give us a fly-over view of life’s hardships and tragedies. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, not only were they doomed to mortality, but the whole Creation was cursed. We live in a damaged world and suffer fall-out of all kinds. Fall-out from our own sins, the sins of others, and the general brokenness of the world around us. 

Those in the Old Testament (OT) looked forward to meeting Abraham in Paradise after death. For those who trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection, the “Paradise” of the OT is the heaven described in the Apostle John’s Revelation, where we’ll spend eternity in the presence of God. 

With that view of death in mind, why wouldn’t God take someone young and good from this broken, sinful earth? 

If you believe God is good and cannot, by His very nature, do anything evil or bad, then allowing the death of someone who has trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior—no matter their age—is a gracious gift to His children for the same two reasons He promised Josiah:  

1. He gives them peace in His presence. 
2. He spares them future heartache. 

For believers in Jesus Christ, death has been defeated, and life begins at the moment of faith. 

Tweet-A-Licious! 

• Take a look at King Josiah’s response to God in 2 Kings 21:24-23:34. Humble confession. Active repentance. 
• For believers in Jesus Christ, death has been defeated, and eternal life begins at the moment of faith. 
• Bad things happen to good people, and today’s newsletter seeks to lift us from the dark forest and trees to give a fly-over view of life’s tragedies. 

Today’s Question: 

• How do you reconcile God’s goodness with the bad things that happen? 

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