希西家王的墓誌銘定然如下:「希西家－－猶大最英明的國王」。他廿五歲即登基，很快便展現出非凡的改革手腕，不僅除去所有異教風俗，也打碎摩西所造的銅蛇(以色列人幾世紀來仍尊崇此蛇)。希西家凡事帶到主恩座前求，他信賴上帝，勝過信賴軍隊和馬匹，上帝也回應他的祈禱，為希西家王擊殺了十八萬五千個亞述士兵，以及延長他十五年的壽命。可惜希西家所帶來的屬靈復興僅如曇花一現，他死後，其子瑪拿西再度引進可憎的異教惡俗，使猶大重墜靈性墮落的深淵。

        你希望死後留下什麼可資紀念的聲名？以下是聖經對希西家的頌詞，試試看哪一個對你最「合身」：
        「希西家行耶和華眼中看為正的事。」(18：3)
        「希西家倚靠耶和華以色列的上帝。」(18：3)
        「他專靠耶和華，總不離開。」(18:5)
        「耶和華與他同在。」(18:7)
        「他無論往何處去，盡都亨通。」(18:7)
        這是一位偉大屬神之人流芳千古的見證。你希望別人在你離世後如何描述你呢？記住，碑文需有事實為憑。試著寫下你自己日後的墓誌銘，然後，今天就開始想辦法活出來，使上帝得榮耀。

        「十一章」勳章
        聖經裡只有少數人物享有十章或十章以上篇幅的記載。舉幾個例，如摩西、大衛、保羅、和希西家。希西家在聖經裡所佔的十一章篇幅跨越了舊約的三卷書。你能舉出是哪三卷嗎？甚或你能把章別也找出來嗎？

你所擁有的東西，在你死後都將落入他人手中，唯有你的人格和精神永遠是你的財產。

English

        The epitaph over the tomb of King Hezekiah might well have read: "Hezekiah, Best King of Judah." Taking the throne at the young age of 25, he soon establishes himself as a reformer par excellence by destroying all traces of heathen wor¬ship among the people, including the bronze serpent Moses had made (and the people had cherished for centuries). Choosing to put his trust in God rather than in armies and horses, Hezekiah often finds himself on his knees. In response to the king's prayers, God strikes 185,000 Assyrians dead and extends King Hezekiah's life an additional 15 years. But the king's godly influence and reforms scarcely outlive him as his son Manasseh introduces abominable practices once again, returning the nation to its pagan ways and downward spiritual slide.

        What deeds and character qualities do you want to be remembered for after you die? Try on a few of Hezekiah's biblical epitaphs for size:
        "He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD" (18:3).
        "He trusted in the LORD God of Israel" (18:5).
        "[He] departed not from following [the LORD]" (18:6).
        "The LORD was with him" (18:7).
        "He prospered whithersoever he went'' (18:7).
        What a perpetual testimony to a great man of God! What would you like others to write about you after you are gone? Remember, before it can be penned, it must be practiced. Write your own epitaph the way you would like it to read someday. Then look for ways to live out your epitaph today to God's glory.

        The Eleven-Chapter Champion —
        Only a handful of characters are given 10 or more chapters in the pages of the Bible: Moses, David, Paul, and Hezekiah. to name a few. The 11 chapters given to Hezekiah's life span three books of the Old Testament. Can you name the books? Better yet, can you name the chapters?

What you possess in this world will go to someone else when you die, but what you are will be yours forever.