말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Bible Verse] They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger. So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left. (2 Kings 17:16-18) 

[Our Story] There is a novel titled Night, an autobiographical work by Elie Wiesel, a Romanian-born Jewish writer who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. In Night, Wiesel recounts the nightmare he lived through in a Nazi concentration camp—a time of unimaginable pain and suffering. Under the Nazi regime, six million Jews were brutally murdered. Shockingly, one of the key figures behind this genocide was a fellow Jew named Eichmann. One day, Eichmann erected a tall gallows in the middle of the street and hanged a young boy, forcing crowds of people to walk beneath the child's lifeless body. Among them was Elie Wiesel. Unable to comprehend the horror, he asked, “Where is God?” Eichmann, with a chilling indifference, replied, “God is hanging there with that boy.” After the war, Eichmann, fearful of punishment for his monstrous crimes, went into hiding. He changed his name and lived in a remote area in Argentina. Eventually, he was captured by Israeli agents and brought to trial at the highest war crimes tribunal. Once again, Elie Wiesel asked, “Where is God?” And this time, he answered his own question:
“God is now judging Eichmann.” He had sown wickedness—and now he was reaping the judgment he deserved. He reaped what he had sown.

[Bible Story] 2 Kings 13-17 recounts the tragic story of the northern kingdom of Israel, a kingdom that reaped what it had sown. King Jehoahaz and his son Jehoash (Joash) led the people deeper into idol worship and continued their evil rule (2 Kings 13). Jehoash showed a glimmer of humility when he visited the prophet Elisha during his fatal illness, and as a result, he won three victories over Aram. Yet, the cycle of unfaithfulness continued. In 2 Kings 14, both King Amaziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel failed to lead in a righteous manner. Amaziah initially walked uprightly before God, but pride overtook him in his later years, and conspirators assassinated him. Jeroboam II expanded and strengthened Israel, but he also grew arrogant and continued in sin. After Jeroboam II’s death, his son Zechariah became king. During the reign of Azariah (Uzziah), a mostly good king in Judah, Israel experienced political chaos with five kings fighting for the throne (2 Kings 15). Zechariah was assassinated by Shallum, who was, in turn, killed by Menahem a month later. Menahem ruled wickedly for ten years before his son Pekahiah took the throne. Pekahiah was killed by Pekah, who was eventually murdered by Hoshea. Meanwhile, in Judah, Jotham reigned with some righteousness, but his son Ahaz turned completely to idolatry, worshiping golden calves, Baal, and even Molech (2 Kings 16). Ignoring the prophet Isaiah’s warnings to trust in God, Ahaz relied on Assyria instead. Hoshea became king of Israel with Assyria’s support, but when King Tiglath-Pileser died, Hoshea turned to Egypt for alliance. Enraged, the new Assyrian king Shalmaneser invaded and eventually captured Samaria, bringing the northern kingdom of Israel to a bitter end (2 Kings 17). They reaped what they had sown.

[Your Story]  What Are You Sowing? Whatever we are sowing now will one day bear fruit. If there’s something you look at often, that’s what you’re sowing. It will grow and eventually bear fruit. If there’s something you think about often, that, too, is a seed. And it, too, will bear fruit. If you sow complaints, you will reap the fruit of complaint. You’ll find yourself surrounded by those who also enjoy that bitter fruit. Eventually, the word “complaint” might even be etched on your face. Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, you’ll find yourself drifting further from God. But if you sow love, you will reap the fruit of love. You’ll be drawn to those who also delight in the fruit of love. Together, you’ll share in that sweet harvest. And love will be written across your face. You’ll become a true worshiper—one who loves God and loves others. I pray that today will be a day when you choose to sow love rather than complaint.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”(Galatians 6:7–9)

With joy,
Happy Pastor Hyung Joong Kim
Copyrightⓒ 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim