25 April | EVERYONE

WHEN YOU START WELL AND END BADLY

«Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king [Joash]. And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.» 2 Chronicles 24:17, 18

Beautiful beginning and sad ending. That is the story of Joash, whose early years were a divine miracle, because Athaliah had ordered the death of the heirs of the previous king and had seized the throne. The only survivor, thanks to his aunt Jehoshabeath, wife of the high priest Jehoiada, was Joash (see 2 Kings 11:1-3).

At the age of one, Joash was hidden in the temple, where he lived with the priestly family for six years. On the seventh year, Jehoiada organized the removal of Athaliah, the usurping queen (2 Kings 11:4-12). She was imprisoned and executed, and Joash became king at the age of seven.

On the advice of Jehoiada, he destroyed the cult of Baal and ordered the restoration of the temple. But when Jehoiada died, the king and his people turned away from the Lord, setting up idols to pagan gods.

Joash’s years of rebellion were sad, and he committed many blunders, such as the death of the priest who came to warn him of his evil ways. But the end came swiftly. Shortly afterwards Hazael, king of Syria, seized the city. Joash was compelled to hand over the treasures of the temple to him.

A few days later, he fell seriously ill, and one of his own servants took his life. A sad end for a king who started well.

The lesson is that what really matters is not just the beginning but, primarily, the end of the story.

Life is not made up of one or another good or bad, circumstantial act, but of a trajectory of coherence that ends in victory.

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Our relationship with God is built little by little. When we get to know Him, we feel that only by His side is life worth living, trusting only in Him. Seek Him more every day to enjoy a wonderful connection with your Creator and Savior.