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Before he died, actor Chris Farley once said: “I used to think you could reach a level of success where laws of the universe didn’t apply, but they do. It is still life on life’s terms, not on movie-star terms. Once I thought if I just had enough in the bank, if I had enough fame, that it would be all right. Now I know I am not exempt.” Farley’s words foretold his own future. He died of an overdose at age 33. Years ago, God warned ancient Israel that unless they changed their wicked ways, they would go into exile. They refused to change, and 2 Kings chapter 17 tells us the outcome: “Then the king of Assyria invaded the entire land, and for three years he besieged the city of Samaria. Finally, in the ninth year of King Hoshea’s reign, Samaria fell, and the people of Israel were exiled to Assyria.” The southern kingdom of Judah lasted another 115 years before it too went into Babylonian exile. Ancient Israel suffered the consequences of ignoring the terms of their covenant with God, refusing to listen to the warnings of the prophets, and pursuing their cravings for sex, money, and power. Since certain outcomes are sure to follow when God’s boundaries are crossed, wise people consider consequences before they act.
