To most of us, such a declaration would come as a fearful or discouraging shock to us. Very few people would welcome the news that their life would soon be over. Below is a story of how one man responded, and how the Lord responded to his response.

”About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’ When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, O Lord, how I have always tried to be faithful to You and do what is pleasing in Your sight.’ Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord: ‘Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of My people. Tell him, “This is what the Lord . . . says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life; and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria.”’” (2 Kings 1-6 NLT)

Hezekiah was one of the few kings of Israel who loved God and lived for Him. 2 Kings 18:3-7 reads: “He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrines . . . Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was never another king like him in the land of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given to Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did.” But now he was being faced with death. He was very ill and Isaiah prophesied that he would soon die.

In response to Isaiah’s declaration about his impending death, Hezekiah wept. Most of us would have done the same. We believe that death is a “promotion” (we are promoted from the Lord’s service into His presence in Heaven), but most of us would like to remain in this life for a longer time so that we could better serve the Lord and our families. Hezekiah not only wept, but he also prayed, and in his prayer reminded the Lord of his faithfulness to Him. He said: “Lord, I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight.”

Could you say to the Lord that you had been faithful to Him on a daily basis throughout most of your life? Could you remind the Lord of your faithfulness in serving, giving, witnessing and living for Him? Would you ask the Lord to review the thoughts, words, attitudes, ambitions and actions of your life for the last number of years, knowing that He would be absolutely pleased with what He saw and heard? If your life was at stake, what could you point out to the Lord that would cause Him to want to change His mind and spare your life?

Hezekiah’s story reminds us that the Lord responds to prayers, tears and the faithful lives of His children. He has a compassionate heart, and at times will even change our circumstances in order to answer our prayers, respond to our desires, and bless us and others. Hezekiah lived an additional fifteen years because of his prayer and faithful life. I believe that God will add years to our lives and the lives of our loved ones when we are faithful in praying to and living for Him!

What are your thoughts regarding this story, and the impact of faithfully living for the Lord?