Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) and Bucky Barnes (aka The Winter Soldier) were best friends as kids and as soldiers in WWII until Bucky was lost and thought killed in action. When Bucky resurfaced as The Winter Soldier it was a complete surprise to Captain America who found himself fighting, and trying to kill, his very best friend. In the end, after saving the world from HYDRA of course, Steve refused to fight his friend. In the next Marvel Comics movie the two were joined together against Iron Man in “Captain America: Civil War”. Of course in the world of comic books and movie make believe they’re all indestructible so obviously they survived to fight on in several more movies and TV shows. Even Thanos couldn’t completely destroy them.

But In the real world of soldiers and kings the story of Ahaziah and Jehoram illustrates the ridiculous nature of the make believe world of movies. When Ahaziah’s father died horribly he became king of Judah, primarily because there was no one else left. However, apparently he was no better than his father and his reign was very, very short. One year in fact. Because his mother, Athaliah, was the sister of Jehoram, king of Israel, he quickly joined his uncle in battle against Syria. When King Jehoram was wounded in battle Ahaziah tagged along with him to Jezeel. (2 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Chronicles 22:5-6).

Unlike the movies the ending was not going to involve any miracle of modern science. In one of his last recorded acts Elisha sent a young man to anoint Jehu as the new king of Israel (2 Kings 9:1-3). Even though he believed in God instead of Baal, Jehu acted like a Baal worshipper in how he quickly eliminated the house of Ahab. Leaving the battlefield he rushed back to Jezreel to see the current king, Jehoram, and promptly shot him with a bow (2 Kings 9:16, 22-25). Then, seeing Ahaziah there as well, he wasted no time killing him too (2 Kings 9:27, 2 Chronicles 22:7-9). There was no magical movie ending for those two evil sons of Ahab.

Both men serve as illustrations of the eternal principle of sowing and reaping. We harvest what we plant. They had planted evil things and harvest time had come. The same principle applies to us as well. If we live selfish indulgent lives we should not be surprised at the consequences. And not just for ourselves. The harvest may impact our children as well, perhaps even our grandchildren. There are exceptions of course. Some people seem to be as indestructible as comic book superheroes (and villains), but they’re not. They too will die, as will we all, and then face the judgment of God, where no one escapes the harvest.

So, what are you planting for eternity?