April 23rd

April 23rd -- 2 Kings 2:1-12 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%202:1-12&version=NLT)

Elijah taken into Heaven

So the Lord is about to take Elijah up into heaven in a whirlwind, while Elijah and Elisha are travelling from Gilgal. Elijah tells Elisha to stay, saying God has told him to go to Bethel. Elisha, though, says he will not leave Elijah. As they arrive, a group of prophets approaches Elisha and asks him if he knew God was going to take Elijah today. Elisha says he does know, but does not want to talk about it. Elijah then tells Elisha to stay, again, saying he is now to go to Jericho. Elisha again insists he will not leave his side. The same process happens with the prophets. Yet again this whole thing repeats, but this time Elijah has been called to the Jordan River. This time, though, fifty men and the prophets watch Elijah and Elisha stop at the river, and Elijah folds his clock and hits the water and it parts, letting them cross over on dry land. Upon reaching the other side, Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him before he is taken. Elisha asks for double his spirit, and that he may be Elijah's successor. Elijah says that will be difficult, but if he sees him when he is taken, he will get it, though if he does not see him, he will not. So they are walking together when a chariot of fire appears, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried into heaven by a whirlwind. When Elisha sees this he cries out to God that he sees them, and then as they disappear he tears his clothes in distress. Elisha picks up Elijah's cloak, which had been dropped, and went back to the Jordan River.

Can you imagine just walking with your friend one day, and having that happen all-of-a-sudden? Just strolling along, talking about what you both did last weekend, and suddenly realizing they're not listening, they're gone, and there's a flaming chariot pulled by flaming horses just riding away... Of course you'd mourn the loss of your friend, even if, like, Elisha, you had known it was coming. However, it would also be an incredible faith boost. I mean, things like that are undeniably clear signs of our God's existence, as well as His power. Elisha asked for, before Elijah left, "a double share" of his spirit, and that he may become Elijah's successor. Elijah said this would happen if Elisha saw Elijah as he was taken away. Elisha did. Now, we know from the end of 1 Kings that God had already told Elijah that Elisha was to take over as prophet of Israel, which is why Elijah had anointed him and was training him. So what about the double share of spirit? Well, try starting a career with that. That's just an undeniably clear sign. If that wouldn't give you a "double share" of spirit, I really don't know what would. Now, we don't exactly see flaming chariots every day (or I don't, at least, and if you all do I need to know where so I can get some photos - haha ) so how do we build faith like that? LOOK AROUND YOU. Look at the beauty and complexity of what God has made for you. How a flower grows may not be as big and flashy as a flaming chariot, but it's pretty impressive. There are different tissues each with a different purpose that know when to grow and stop growing, as well as the fact that monocots and dicots (angiosperm types) know to grow their different ways from each other, but all the same within their grouping. (Pardon me if I made any mistakes on those biological terms...) We have a God who's looking out for the photosynthesis in every last flower or blade of grass. I think that's a bigger miracle than a flaming chariot. So let the little things grow your faith - they won't be a one-time-and-gone event, either, so you can always look at them as a reminder.

That's all for tonight, folks! God bless! Shalom!