"We are not doing right" - 2 Kings 7:9

A drill officer was putting his young recruits through some PT (physical training). At one point he commanded them to lay on their backs, raise their legs, and start moving them in circles as if riding a bicycle. One young soldier raised his legs but held them motionless. The Sergeant briskly walked toward him barking out, “What’s the big idea soldier? What do you think you are doing?” The recruit, as he lay on his back, looked up and said “I am coasting downhill, sir!” As I read that this morning I thought there are many Christians and many Churches that are coasting downhill. Let me give you a great definition of coasting downhill. I would define it as ‘Benefiting from work that was done in the past.’ The only way you coast downhill is to have worked to get to the top of the hill in the first place.

In 2 Kings 7:3-11 we find the story of four leprous men. The Syrians had laid siege to the city of Samaria and God’s people living there were in trouble. On top of the Syrians, there was according to 2 Kings 6:24-26 a “great famine” that had occurred to the point buying a donkey’s head was very expensive and people were even buying “dove droppings” as food. There are three parts of these lepers story I want to point out as I think they speak to those who are ‘coasting’ on the Lord.

First, the lepers ask one another “Why are we sitting here until we die?” (v.3) They knew if they entered the city the famine was there and if that didn’t kill them the people likely would have because lepers were not welcome because of their disease. In order to die, all the lepers had to do was absolutely nothing. They recognized if they simply sat there, they were going to die from starvation. Their predicament was exactly like it is for lost people today. What do they have to do to be lost or spiritually dead? Absolutely nothing; they don’t have to commit even one more sin. They are dead in their trespasses and sins right now (Ephesians 2:1).

Second, the lepers decide to take a huge risk. They decide to surrender to the Syrians and they proclaim, “If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die” (v.4). This decision to surrender is what ultimately saved their lives. Isn’t that the message we should share today with those who are lost? The Good News is that God loved them enough to send Jesus who willingly paid for their sins dying on the cross, that they might experience forgiveness from and relationship with the Lord God.

When the lepers arrive at the camp of the Syrians, it is deserted. Verse six says the Lord caused the Syrians to hear “the noise of chariots and the noise of horses.” The Syrians then ran for their lives, literally, leaving everything; their tents were intact, and their horses and donkeys were left behind as well. The four lepers go from tent to tent eating and drinking and hiding some of the riches they have found. But the story turns in verse nine as the lepers realize what they are doing is wrong. Here’s how the Word of God says it, “They said to one another, ‘We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us.’” They decide they have to tell the people in the city what they have found and they understand time is of the essence; who knows how many would have died during the night because of starvation and dehydration. Friend we have good news to share to people who are dying as well. And time is of the essence because people are dying lost every minute of every day and will be eternally separated from a God who loves them. When it comes to speaking the Good News we cannot remain silent and coast downhill ‘benefiting from work done in the past.’

I read some quotes from some of our IMB missionaries recently. Here’s what a few of them said: “Somehow we’ve got to get into their soul pain and walk with them; that’s where Jesus is.” Another said, “My heart’s desire is to serve Him (Christ) no matter what it takes; even if I have to suffer; even if I have to die!” One more from a missionary serving in East Asia, “China is a dark place… sometimes I lie in bed at night and cry for them… I want them to have a chance.”

In 1982 John Sculley was the President of PepsiCo when Steve Jobs, Apple CEO and co-founder approached him. Jobs offered Sculley a job with these words, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want to change the world?” That’s a great question for the church today? Will we maintain the status quo and just do what we have been doing, or will we settle for nothing less than changing the world?