Leave the world a better place

Hezekiah was one of the best kings of Judah – a man of prayer, action and integrity. When he prayed, powerful enemies like the Assyrians were kept at bay. He received healing from terminal disease with miraculous signs to confirm it. He governed well and expanded the kingdom of Judah in his time.

Maybe his most valuable legacy was his ability to discern between true and false religion and leading his people on the solid path of God’s revelation. He was a leader and an example to his contemporaries as well as to generations to come. But close to the end of his time, the prophet Isaiah brought him a prophecy of calamity and upheaval: after his life, the Babylonians will come and take the people into exile and rob his palace of all its riches.

“The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied, for he thought, “there will be peace and security in my lifetime.” (Isaiah 39:8). The bottom line for Hezekiah seems to be short-sighted self interest. Are we any different? Even the best among us are pre-occupied with our own life and times, and would echo Hezekiah's sentiments--as long as there is peace and security in my time!

Robbert Baden-Powell, the founder of the scouting movement, is credited with the winged words, “leave this world a little better than you found it”. Many others have done just that. Jesus. St Paul. St Augustine.

St Francis. And thousands and millions more after them. Our every word and deed of every day, and even lack thereof, have an influence on those coming after us. Let us lay good foundations and build well for those sharing the world with us and for those inheriting it from us. Strauss de Jager, NG Kerk Albanie