A Life of Tranquility and Legacy - 2 Chronicles 17-20

 2 Chronicles 20:30-33 (ESV)

So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.

What an epitaph.  Would it not be great to have someone write about you as you are dying or have died that “God gave you rest all around?”    Wouldn’t it be great to hear that the final thing written about you was that you were, “... doing what was right in the sight of the LORD?”   The reason this was written about Jehoshaphat is because he sought God and allowed God to lead him.  He was obedient to God’s word and attempted to instill that in all of those he lead.   Obviously, according to the above verse, he did not get everyone to follow his lead.   We can relate to that when we read about Jesus.  He had eleven out of twelve follow Him faithfully.  But, one did not.  Jehoshaphat obeyed and commanded his people to obey.  But, some would not.   The key is that he did set the example and did set up the kingdom to promote God’s ways and God’s pathway to obedience.  When we are dying that is no time to think of our epitaph.   What they say about us at hour death is a culmination of our life.   We are writing the ending every day we live.   Each obedient act of faith toward God is a pen stroke on our tombstone.  Every decision to choose God over the world is a punctuation mark in the paragraphs of our lives.   When people talk about you after you are gone it will the content of your actions toward God that they remember.  

But there is more.   Jehoshaphat not only died in admiral way, during his life he had “quiet” and “rest” in his kingdom. Not only does obedience speak to your legacy in death, it also promotes you tranquility in life.   We can prepare for death by living right in life.   But, we can rejoice in life about peace and safety when we walk in obedience and faith toward God at the same time.  Jehoshaphat not only left a legacy, he lived a life full of tranquility.  That is what obedience to God can bring.