The Road to Perdition

(by Pastor Joe)

2 Kings 5

Bible characters make me laugh (Zacchaeus, Lazarus, or the seven sons of Sceva). Some test my mental capacity (think Melchizedek or Daniel). Some make me somewhat angry (like Jephthah or Solomon). And some make me sad. Gehazi falls into this category.

There are a whole slew of men in the Bible who flood my spirit with regret every time they are mentioned. My heart thinks of what was lost, compared to what could have been, and it sinks.

Those who were eyewitnesses to the truth, who were so close, only to make the worst possible decision and fall away. Balaam. Judas. Demas. There are more.

Gehazi had so much going for him. He had the privilege of being the personal assistant to one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel. He spoke on Elisha's behalf. He witnessed God's miracles first hand. He was a key part of Elijah's ministry, even entrusted to carry out a potential miracle of his own. He was a failure.

Gehazi gave up everything good in his life for what? Two sets of clothes and a whole bunch of silver. Many people have sold out for far less. Demas deserted Paul because "because he loved the world" (2 Ti. 4:10). Balaam was willing to flirt around with truth and prophesy for hire as long as the price was right (Nu. 22:17). And worst of all, Judas Iscariot was willing to trade in his apostleship and friendship with Jesus Christ for a mere 30 pieces of silver (Mt. 26:15). Greed and the love of money forever ruined these men.

But what was the ultimate result? All of them lived out the warning later given by Simon Peter, "may your money perish with you!" (Ac. 8:20). Balaam was killed in battle as an enemy combatant, after leading Israel astray (Nu. 31:8) . Judas committed suicide (Ac. 1:18). Demas is remembered only in infamy. Gehazi is stricken by the same disease that God washed Naaman clean of. This new leprosy that clung to Gehazi was only the outward reflection of the inward reality of his already leprous heart. All four are tragedies of what could have been.

The question for you and me is this: where are we in danger of making the same mistake, of selling out, of allowing greed to shipwreck our faith and lives? I would wish to tell myself and everyone else that we are somehow immune, that this could never happen today, but that is just not the case. Lord, save me from taking that same path of Gehazi!

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