What is the doctrine of Reprobation?

The doctrine of reprobation I believe is the absolute hardest doctrine in all of scripture. It is so painful that many scholars and theologians do not discuss it. It has been my experience that only those in the Reformed or Calvinistic camps discuss the matter.

So, what is the doctrine of reprobation and is it Biblical?

In order to understand this doctrine one has to place it in juxtaposition to the doctrine of sovereign election. The doctrine of election as I have explained several times before is defined is that God before time and creation decided to foreknow and chose some to be recipients of his saving grace in time when he determined. In other words, exactly when God wanted, he would save them through the preaching of the gospel message - guaranteeing their salvation when they believed (Eph 1:4).

The doctrine of reprobation is that God before time decides not to choose others before the foundation of the world - leaving them in their sins to be judged by God at the end of time and ultimately perish in hell.

Now one can understand why this teaching is the most offensive of all doctrines - it offends our sensibilities and it casts a shadow of apparent unfairness, unrighteous, and unloving views of our creator. It is our natural tendency to reject and ridicule things we do not understand, dislike or even hate them. And believe me, this doctrine is hated. That is why it is important that we examine it to see if it is Biblical or not.

The word reprobation comes from the word reprobate which means not standing the test and to be rejected in the original Greek. The Bible does talk about some having a reprobate mind in Romans 1:28. Titus 1:16 says some people are reprobate.

So in the doctrine of reprobation (assuming it is true), there are those whom God decides in eternity past to pass over. Now I realize to the human mind this has massive implications.

The billion dollar question is why would God do this?

Apparently, it must be God's will not to save everyone. This reasoning, of course, raises more questions than it answers I'm sure.

One of the main questions is, "If God decided in eternity past to pass by some sinners to ultimately perish in their sins why create them in the first place?" In other words what benefit does God get by creating those he never intended to save? I'll answer the question later in the article.

Here is another question I need to present to the reader: Since some people are non-elect can they still respond positively to the gospel and be saved? My question and answer to this question is if the non-elect can believe and be saved when they hear the gospel, then I would argue that their salvation was not a gift of grace by God, but rather a work of self-righteousness by the sinner. I will put it another way, man chooses God, so God chooses man once he believed. And yet another way to put it: the faith of man compelled God to choose him in time. Or the faith of man dictated election. This reasoning is unbiblical because it shows man being proactive in salvation and God reactive. Ephesians 1:4 tells us that we were chosen before (italics mine) the foundation of the world. No one is chosen after the foundation of the world.

So, back to the question of, "If God in eternity past decided to pass by some sinners, reserve them for judgment and wrath in time - that they ultimately perish in sin, then why create them in the first place?" My answer is even the wicked serve a purpose in this world. Proverbs 16:4 tells us, "God has created all things for himself even the wicked for the day of evil" As bizarre as it may sound, evil people serve God even in their rebellion and unbelief! No one is here by accident. Somehow God's sovereignty allows for the wicked to behave wickedly. God uses their evil to bring about good that will glorify himself. Does God desire that man rebels? No. That is why he punishes us when we sin. But, he allows it otherwise evil could never occur. God has given man the free will to choose good or evil. When man obeys God, all generally goes well with him. When he rebels, he should fear because God's wrath abides on him (John 3:36).

The archetypical person the Bible describes as one who God raised up to display his power so that his name could be made known throughout all the earth was Pharoah. This is what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 9:17-18, for the scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the whole Earth". So then he (i.e. God) has mercy on whom he desires (emphasis added), and he hardens whom he desires.

What does this mean? Pharaoh was an evil man who God reserved for divine judgment. He was not chosen to be a recipient of God's grace. Seem unfair? No, it is not. Pharaoh was a sinner who hated the true God and enslaved his people the Hebrews. God simply gave the man what he deserved, divine justice for his sins. God decided before time began not to elect Pharoah, but rather reserve him for judgment. In other words, the Lord hardened Pharoah.

Reprobation is God's just retribution on unredeemed sinners. Had God chose to do so, he could have elected every person that would ever live to be saved. In his perfect wisdom, he did not. Why? God will be glorified in his judgment and wrath on the unregenerate (Rom 9:22). Once again, this is his holy justice against evil mankind that hates their perfect creator. We punish criminals that break our laws in the earth realm. We even execute those who deserve to die for their crimes do we not? How much more will God destroy those who have committed crimes against heaven? Divine justice is not only fair, it is absolutely necessary! God would violate his own holiness if he did not punish evil men.

What is utterly amazing of our creator is that he willfully chose some, an innumerable mass of sinful, undeserving, wretched humanity to receive his kingdom because he delights in doing so. One of the most tender loving verses in the Bible comes from our Lord Jesus who said, "Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

The writer believes sufficient evidence has been presented that proves that reprobation exists. To the natural human mind, it is a repulsive doctrine. Most Christians reject this doctrine alone with divine election. We have not been taught these precious truths in our Churches growing up until the present time so to most, they are offensive because they believe it casts a shadow on God's omnibenevolent nature.  What I will do in my next article is try to explain the complaints many bring up regarding preaching the gospel from a reformed perspective.

Did God really hate Esau?

Malachi 1:2-3 it says, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated". The Apostle Paul quotes this same passage in Romans 9:13. Why did God hate Esau? It's not that God had this seething malicious hatred toward Esau in as much that he preferred Jacob over Esau. Why? Because it served God's purpose. Keep in mind that God made the decision to choose Jacob and Esau's destinies before they were born (Rom 9:11).

It also very important to remember that God's purpose included not just the twins boys but their descendants as well. Esau was the father of the Edomites. Jacob whose name was changed to Israel in Genesis 32:28 became the father of the Israelites or Hebrews (or who we call Jews or Israelis today).

Jacob was chosen to be blessed in a way the Esau was not. Jacob was no better than his brother but was favored by God to receive benefits that Esau never received. The benefits, of course, have extended to the Hebrew race as they exist to this day. Edomites do not exist anymore. They were perpetual enemies of the Jews Their destruction was prophesied by the prophet Obadiah. The Edomites were also destroyed because of their refusal to help their relatives along with rejoicing in their demise (Num 20:20-21;Ezek 35:15).

Was God unfair in treating Jacob better than Esau? Absolutely not! Neither can lay claim to God's grace. God was exercising his sovereign elective choice to bless one son over the other. Both were sinners deserving of God's wrath. Jacob and his descendants received grace. Esau and his descendants received justice. Esau and his descendants were not treated unfairly by God.

Contrary to popular belief, God loves all people, but not equally. In the eyes of sinful humans, the realization that one person receives a benefit over another is unfair. I guess mankind will never learn that God is not subject to our definition of fairness. To believe one has the right to put the Almighty in a human tribunal and lay charges of unrighteousness against him is asinine, to say the least, and perhaps demonic at the worst. It is like Paul said in Romans 9:20, "Who are you O man to answer back to God?" In other words, who do you think you are talking to God that way? We need to watch our mouths. God has every right to treat every human being how he sees fit. He never needs our approval or disapproval to do anything regarding his creation. 

We would do well to remember that fact.

Who sins have been forgiven?

It is important I ask the question because there are many in the Church if not most that are convinced that everyone sins have been forgiven by Christ. Is that indeed true? Has Jesus forgiven every last person's sins?

If I could see the faces of everyone that will read this article, I could imagine you looking back at me perplexed saying, "Del are you kidding me? Of course, everyone's sins have been forgiven by Christ!" 

Okay then, we need to test that reasoning against scripture. To me, it is quite simple. If one dies in sin and perishes in hell were their sins forgiven? If one says yes then you believe in a sort of double jeopardy. Meaning that you have Christ paying for sins of the hell-bound, and the lost paying for their own sins. Does that seem logical and fair?

Of course, it is not.

It does not make sense nor is it fair for Christ to die for the sins of those who will eternally perish in hell and pay the penalty for their own sins. Some of you may be gasping in horror by my statement right now and branding me a heretic. It is important that you hear me out so that you understand my reasoning behind my argument. 

To believe that Christ forgave everyone's sins means that he paid the price for them on his cross. This also means he washed their sins away. Now listen and read very carefully: If Christ paid your sin debt in full, that means you cannot go to hell. Why? Because you have no debt to pay so, therefore, you cannot be responsible for your sins anymore - Jesus took care of them. Remember what the Prophet Isaiah declared, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was placed upon him. By his stripes, we are healed (Isa 53:5). 

The prophet clearly describes the punishment he suffered on our behalf - all those that have put their trust in Christ. So, if everyone in the world sins has been forgiven, then all will go to heaven - there would be no hell. We know that is not true. Most of the world will not believe and will perish in hell.

There is an absolute and necessary condition for one to have their sins forgiven and receive salvation, one must believe! The most well known and celebrated passage in all the Bible tells us that, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son. That whosoever should believe (necessary condition) on him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). 

It is quite elementary, one's sins are only forgiven if they repent and place their faith in the Lord Jesus for the remission of their sins (Heb 9:22). Often times when people are sharing the gospel they will tell someone that Jesus loves them and has forgiven their sins without sharing with them why they need to be forgiven of sin in the first place. How do you know if the person even knows what sin means? 

The person will not appreciate or want the cure unless they realize they are dead in their trespasses and sins and totally cut off from the life of God their creator (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13).  Do not offer the cure until you explain why the person needs the cure - they are spiritually dead and need to be made alive by the power of God's Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again" (i.e. new birth, born from above) - (John 3:3,5-8).

Concluding, those who have the joy of their sins forgiven are those that have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and the washing away of their sins forever. It is tragic to tell someone Jesus has forgiven their sins when the person has not believed. The burden of their sins still remains with them. The provision is there and the price for all sin has been paid, but only for those who truly believe!!

I said this in the past, and I will repeat myself, Jesus has paid for all of your sins if you are in him, or he has paid for none of them if you are still in sin. The enemies of God do not get the same benefits as the children of God. Remember, all sins ever committed will be paid for, either by Jesus on the cross for the redeemed, or the sinner will pay for their own sins in hell.

In light of the Fall

My foundation passage for writing this article: Isaiah 46:10, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I do all my pleasure” (italics added for emphasis).

I often wonder why God created the universe in the light of the fall. What do I mean by this?  In other words, God created the earth knowing at the same time he would allow the fall of man into sin to happen and ruin his perfect creation. If you have ever pondered this reality like I do, then admittedly it brings tension to the mind.

However, this does not make me question God in an accusative way, but rather it makes me desire to get to know the mind of God more so I can love and appreciate his uniqueness and explain to those in my sphere of influence the wonders of our God who also ponder this difficult matter.

Let me say first off that I do not fully understand why God ordained the fall, but I do know that ordaining the fall of man I believe is good in the ultimate salvific sense. Why? Because God allowed it through the sin of Adam to occur. Certainly, God had the power to stop Adam and Eve from committing sin, but he did not. Why? That was not part of his plan. The results of the fall were and are tragic humanly because it has caused unbearable misery, pain, and death but in the mind of our infinite God, there is a silver lining. What is that silver lining I am sure the reader is asking right now?

 Before I attempt to answer that question, the reader MUST understand that the results of the fall of man although ordained and allowed by God are not his fault. God commanded Adam directly not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16-17). So, how do we reconcile this conundrum - God allowing the fall, and dealing with Adam's disobedience that brought about the fall that God ordained?  This definitely seems like a contradiction doesn't it?

It is not a contradiction but rather a paradox. When I say that God ordained the fall it does not mean he is the cause of it. Mankind is. God did not bait Adam to Eve to sin and then punish them for it. That would make God unjust. Satan (with God's permission) was the one that tempted Eve (not Adam) to eat the forbidden fruit. She and Adam had a free will to choose to obey or disobey God. We know they chose to disobey because that is what they wanted to do. Their desire at that moment to disobey and eat was greater than their desire to obey and not eat. That is the nature of all mankind. 

So we have two parallel dynamics going on here. It was God's preceptive will that they not eat - meaning they knew the will of God and willfully broke it. They disobeyed with their eyes wide open. At the same time, through their disobedience, God's plan was not stifled in any way. Adam and Eve's disobedience was interwoven in God's providential plan. It had to be otherwise it would have never happened. Once again, God allowed the sin because we have free will to choose what we do. He does not approve of it. That is why he cursed them both, forgave their sin by killing an innocent animal, shedding its blood as their sin substitute to make them coats of skin to cover their nakedness and kicked them out of the garden (Gen 3:16-17,21, 23-24). This was the first act of atoning forgiveness in history. It also foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sins on the cross.

Remember sin always results in death (Romans 6:23).

So that is how the writer believes we reconcile God ordaining and allowing the fall versus Adam's disobedience which he clearly forbade.

You see even the evil that men do serves God. It's abhorrent to him. That is why he must punish it. But he uses the evil and turns it around for good (Romans 8:28). God knew what Adam and Eve would do before he created the universe. How? Because the Lord has foresight - meaning he knows and sees everything before it actually happens. It is what scholars call omniscience. It means God has all knowledge. That is why God could plan man's salvation in advance in conjunction of the fall. It is also how God revealed things to the prophets before they happened in time. Mankind is not that way. We only have hindsight - meaning we can only know things when and after they happen. And without divine revelation from God through his word, we will never understand why things happen in the manner that they do - good or bad.

Now, back to the question of "what is the silver lining in all of this?" The silver lining was the plan of God before the foundation of the world to send his perfect and only Begotten Son to come and die for the sins of his people (Matt 1:21). That way God could show the wonders of his grace toward underserving wretched sinners like you and I (Eph 1:6). 

Although the fall of man was tragic, God's grace is greater (Rom 5:20).  In other words, the tragedy of the fall of man pales in comparison to the love, power, and grace of God. 

The fall of man did not in any way defeat or delay God's plan of redemption. Everything God has ever done is right on his schedule despite Adam's sin which clearly God did NOT want him to do. The part that admittedly perplexes me is that God providentially uses sinful man to fulfill his will. What amazes me, even more, is the transcendent wisdom of God - how he can even allow the evil choices that are clearly against his revealed will and use them for good while at the same time punish us for those sinful choices. That is pure brilliance! Now you tell me, who should not fear and reverently worship a God like that? 

God's commands are frustrated by man every day and yet he will still fulfill his plans perfectly. God is victorious every time, while man is piling up sin against the day of God's wrath.

In conclusion, God does allow for sin to occur while at the same not being responsible for it.  Remember what James said, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man. But every man is tempted he when he is drawn away of his own lust (italics mine) and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

This was the tragic scenario of Adam of Eve in the garden.

I wish you good luck!!

The above mentioned phrase is usually used in our society as a kind way of saying you wish someone well in whatever it is they are doing; whether it is a new job, their education, or perhaps a new business venture. But, what is luck? What does it mean to be lucky or unlucky? Is there actually a thing in our world called luck? And if so, where does it come from?

Permit me to be technical in this article. To some, I may even be annoying. I will accept that. I am going to attempt to break this idea down so we can see if luck really exists. 

A definition of luck: Success or failure brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.

Definition of chance: a force that causes good or bad things to happen.

When we say things happen by chance, we are saying things happen for no reason at all. That is impossible. Absolutely everything that happens in our lives is for a reason even when we do not understand why they happen good or bad. If we are depending on "the luck of the draw" as many count on when gambling, or on the ghost of a chance, then you are depending on false deities that obviously do not exist. This equates to idolatry.

Chance is a word used when dealing with mathematical probabilities. When one flips a coin, we say its a 50-50 chance that the coin will land on heads or tails. Actually, it's a 100-100 reality that the coin will land on heads or tails - think about it.  So, is it blind chance, fate or luck that causes the coin to land on heads or tails, or is it something else? If chance rules the day, then what we have is an effect without a cause. That, of course, is impossible. There is no such thing as a causeless event. And since we cannot have an effect without a cause, there can be no such thing as luck or chance happenings in our world.

To declare things happen by luck is to say that luck is an outside arbitrary force that invades our lives at random to make things happen against our will good or bad. We as humans have absolutely nothing to do with how our lives go because we have these "gods" of luck and or chance invading our lives whenever they feel like it. Our hard work and efforts take a back seat to how things unfold in our lives. because luck and chance decided to step in uninvited. For those of us who are sports fans watching the NBA playoffs, the Houston Rockets were "unlucky" because Chris Paul got hurt, and The Golden Warriors got "lucky" because Chris Paul got hurt. Did not the Rockets horrible 3 point shooting and poor second halves in games 6 and 7 when they had halftime leads in both games seal their doom along with the Warriors superior play in the second half of those games cause them to advance to the NBA finals? I will admit had Chris Paul played in those games, the Rockets may have advanced instead of Golden State since they had a 3-2 games lead in the series.  My point? Luck had nothing to do with the outcome, at all!! One team outplayed the other when it mattered the most. For Golden State execution was the cause, and victory was the effect. People say we have good or bad luck because there are so many unexplainable things in our lives with apparently no rhyme or reason. In other words, our ignorance of the anomalies in life is chalked up as luck and chance. 

What is so tragic about this mindset is that the world is depending upon fantasy than on the fact that all things are a result of a creator God. God ordains whatever comes to past - even the evil that is in the world. Before the reader gasps in horror that I said God ordains the evil that is in the world, I will carefully explain a little later as best as I can what I mean.

In Isaiah 46:10 we read, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done. Saying my purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure".

The reality that God is in control of all things instead of lady luck, your lucky stars or some omen should provide all with relief, but sadly for most, it does not. If one does not believe in The Almighty who is in complete control of all things, then all one has is the apparitions of luck and chance. This means you have nothing. From that point of view, one's life is one cosmic accident - you are existing with no purpose. Your life is no more important than a slot machine or cards on a blackjack table in  Vegas. That is the tragic view of the Darwinian evolutionist, not that of one who believes in a benevolent creator.

I don't know about you, but I would rather leave my life in the hands of God than luck, chance or fate. 

Since God is the cause of all things in the universe and not luck and or chance how can he be good if evil exists?

I have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. God is good always, and his mercy endures forever (Psalm 136). Remember evil exists because Adam and Eve way back in the garden of Eden chose to disobey God (Gen 3:6). That was the origin of human moral evil. Evil is the absence of good - of moral righteousness. Evil is not a force, but rather a disposition that is hostile toward God. As strange as it may sound to one's ears, God did ordain that evil exist.  Please understand that by ordaining it, he allowed it to pollute his creation through the willful disobedience of man. God can never be the author of evil in that he created it for everything God created was very good (Gen 1:31). Evil is not a result of bad luck infusing it as some wicked parasitical black ooze that possesses mankind. Evil is always connected to our cognizant willful choices. We do evil because we want to. No one can make us. Our choices are free. 

At this point, someone may ask the question,"Why would a good God allow evil to ruin his perfect world?" The best answer I can give is a long one. It's a mystery in part to me why God would allow evil to infiltrate his wonderful creation. But God who is all wise apparently decided his glory would be served best this way - meaning allowing evil to pervade this world, and casting it into ruin. Defeating and conquering sin by sending his only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ the perfect sacrifice for our sins. All those who believe will receive eternal life and forgiveness of their sins. This incomparable act of love puts God's power and glory on full display for the whole world to see. 

Please just remember this, the terrible things we experience in this life is mankind's fault at the root. The good that happens to us is because of the sheer grace and mercy of God. Let me prove that. 

James 1:17 says,"Every good thing and every perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."

God is good and blesses us with good all the time. When bad things happen, it never diminishes the goodness of God, but it should be a painful reminder of the wickedness of man. Evil looms so large that like a thick black cloud it appears to block out the good in our lives so the evil is all we see. We ourselves are indeed our worst enemy. The internal evil we toil with, along with the external evil we wrestle with is a result of our sinful nature - God help us!!

Good and bad are not arbitrary in our lives. All things happen for a reason. We do not know all the reasons nor are we supposed to know. If we did, there would be no need for faith in God. It is futile especially for the Christian to abandon things to luck and chance. It proves one is not trusting in God. Remember God will not share his throne or give his glory to someone or something (Isa 48:11) especially not to luck and chance. We are to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge him, and he will direct our paths (Pro 3:5-6).

Customary and Universal Application

In the book of Leviticus chapters 18:22 and 20:13 God through Moses condemns homosexuality. Also in Leviticus 19:19b the word tells Israel that they were not to wear two different types of material sewn together. The command regarding the clothing is an ambiguous one. The reasoning behind that one is some believe that pagan nations may have worn different clothing sewn together when performing some type of occultic ritual and thus Israel who were/are God's chosen people, and had to be separate in every way from all other nations were forbidden from this practice. We do not know for sure.

The reason I bring the matter up is that so many people who lack Biblical discernment have this notion that since homosexuality was condemned in the Mosaic law and is of course condemned in the new testament (Read Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6), then it is also sinful to wear two different types of clothing (i.e. Denim and cotton), and to eat shellfish or shrimp since they were also supposedly forbidden.

Does the Bible condemn the eating of shrimp or the wearing of multiple fabrics?

What must be differentiated in the law is what was customary verses what has universal application. We are talking about the ancient Hebrews in Leviticus. Their dietary laws have been abolished with the arrival of the new covenant. This is what the Lord told Peter in Acts 10, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy"(Acts 10:15).  What does that mean? God has put Peter into a trance. Peter saw a sheet come out of heaven and in it was all types of animals that their the old law forbade him to eat. So when Peter heard a voice tell him "to kill and eat", Peter said, "No Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 

What God was trying to tell Peter is that the Old Covenant you knew your whole life has been superseded by a new and better covenant based on better promises (Heb 8:6,13). Also, Peter and his companions were there to preach the gospel to Gentiles for the first time - The Roman Centurion Cornelius and those in his house (Acts 10). The Gentiles are the ones God had cleansed in Peter's vision. Something the Jews never would have imagined!

Also, In 1 Timothy 4:3-4 we read, "Men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer."

Point being is that no food is forbidden to us now. Of course, that does that mean we have to eat everything in sight. Some things we are better not consuming. The prohibition of certain foods in the Hebrews diet and the wearing of certain types clothing along with trimming of the beards, tattoos, etc were binding upon the nation of Israel to separate them from the other nations surrounding them that were evil. However, homosexuality is a moral law that was not abolished in the New Testament. It is binding upon us now. All of the moral commandments of the Mosaic law are still in force today; do not take the Lord's name in vain, do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery, etc (Exodus 20).

So when someone wants to say that since Christians always want to condemn homosexuality and those same people want to argue that the Old Testament law condemns the wearing of different fabrics, or say you cannot eat shellfish or shrimp, kindly explain to them what laws are binding upon us now, and which ones are not binding.

God's moral law always applies to us. God's customary laws do not apply because those laws have been abolished with the ushering in of the New Covenant.

Hezekiah's Plea to the Lord

In Isaiah chapter 38 we read that King Hezekiah became very ill to the point of death. He is in the prime of his life so he humbles and prays to the Lord how he has been faithful to God, and how he has served him with his whole heart. 

God hears his prayer and sends him word through the prophet Isaiah that he will add fifteen years to his life (vs 5). Hezekiah was suffering from a painful boil. A cake of figs was made which apparently had the medicinal properties to heal Hezekiah once it was rubbed on the boil to heal him (vs 21).

Question, how did Hezekiah's life change so dramatically when it was told to him by the prophet to "put your house in order because you are going to die and not live" (vs 1)?

Simply, due to Hezekiah's prayer. It moved the hand and heart of God to act on his behalf. The text said the Lord heard Hezekiah's prayer and saw his tears (vs 5).  I am bringing this point up because of the fact that some reading this account may get the impression or simply believe that God changed his mind regarding what he decided to do regarding Hezekiah. 

No, God did not nor does he ever change his mind. Hezekiah certainly would have died of his sickness had he not prayed to God to spare his life. God also knew that Hezekiah would pray that prayer of humility to him which gave the Lord the opportunity to bless him. Both scenarios are true. Had Hezekiah not prayed he would have died. Because he did pray, God granted fifteen more years and healed him. Some look at the word Isaiah gave Hezekiah regarding him dying as an intention and not a declaration from the Lord; a divine intention God can change if one prays (as was the case of Hezekiah praying for himself), or if one intercedes, but a decree from God must be fulfilled.

This story should be of great encouragement to us as children of God. The Lord hears the prayers and sees the tears of his saints. Just like with Hezekiah, he is moved with compassion to act on our behalf. But please notice what Hezekiah prayed, "Remember now O Lord how I have walked before you in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight" (vs 3).

2 Chronicles 29:2 tells us that Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. His relationship with the Lord no doubt gave him the confidence to petition the Lord to spare his life.