Oct 24

Matthew 2:1
Memorise Ecclesiastes 1:2
“…turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity,and quicken thou me in thy way.”

Herod the Great was made king of Judea in 43 BC by the Romans. He started the rebuilding of the temple that took 80 years to complete. He never saw it done as it was only completed after his death. He was a cruel and mad man. He was the one who ordered the murder of babies during the time of Christ’s birth. At his death, Rome divided the kingdom between his sons Antipas, Archelaus and Philip. Like their father, they were all depraved and not much better. It was Herod Antipas who had John the Baptist beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12). In AD 41, the Romans gave Agrippa, Herod’s grandson, the throne. It was Herod Agrippa who imprisoned Peter, who was then freed by an angel (Acts 12:3-10). Agrippa considered himself a god. Historians record that he would wear a tightly woven silver suit in public to give himself the appearance of a god. Because ‘he gave not God the glory’, God immediately caused worms to eat him up and he died (Acts 12:21-23). Herod Agrippa II, the great grandson of Herod the Great took over the throne. It was before him that Paul made his defense at Caesarea (Acts 25:13-27, 26:1-32). He died at about AD 100.

The Herods might have been majestic and magnificent as kings, but none of them are with us today. They have all died. Psalm 144:4 tells us that man’s days are as a shadow that passes away. Psalm 39:5 tells us that the days of man is as a handbreadth. Even men at their best are vain. The Herods were no different. Despite their elevated positions on this earth, they are inconsequential to us today. In fact all things will pass from this world. Nothing will last except for the things of God. His Word is eternal. His works are eternal including the salvation He has given all believers. The Herods were nothing more than just placeholders in history for God to fulfill His plan of saving mankind. All who will not do His will are the same. If we do His will, we can be part of this work that will last for all eternity. However, if we seek our own ways of sin, we will only fall into things that are vain and that will not last. If you are a believer, you will not fade into history but will spend eternity with God in heaven. However, if you have not come to repent of your sins and trust in Christ, you are only destined for one place and that is everlasting hell fire. Come to believe today!

Thought: All will die one day. It is what comes after that counts.
Prayer: Father, include me in eternity’s plan.