Recapitulating . . .
Tossing restlessly on his mat, he slept, haunted by visions of fire falling from above on animal sacrifices, then by messages of fire clawing at his eyes. The visions passed and he slept peacefully from sheer exhaustion. For how long he didn’t know, when he suddenly felt warmth on his face. Straining to arch his lids open, he SAW what he FELT—a single laser of light directed at his eyes. He instantly sat, the voice spoke and the light vanished. Awake now, but with too many ideas…too many questions…too many efforts to find solutions in his humanity…. When asked, “What are you doing here?”, the prophet revealed the depths of his discomfiture AND his inability to THINK straight. Consider evidences from I Kings 18:30-40.
Proving that even God’s people can easily let personal perspectives distort our experiences and misinterpret God’s will. Because we see it ALL through our, not GOD’s, eyes. In this appeal God gave his servant a chance to personally experience a divine visitation parallel to Moses’ own. Not going out as directed, Elijah stood in place and felt, heard and saw God’s explosive nature-power: wind, earthquake and fire. Then…a gentle whisper (NIV), a still-small voice (KJV). The previous didn’t affect him. In fear he fled a Queen’s anger. In greater fear he hid from God’s even-more dreadful softness, mercy and peace. Covering his face, he stepped to the cave mouth. To once again hear, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” The same question from God. The same answer from Elijah. The right question each time. The wrong answer each time. Which indicated that Elijah had exhausted his strength in ministry. My brother Rich went to the doctor. Asked how he felt, he replied, “Very unwell.” “Why?” “I’m worn out.” Within days he died. At 83. Full of years. Full of faith in Christ. More than that, Full of faith in glories to come. Since Elijah hadn’t changed his mind, even after seeing the POWER of God in nature and the compelling power of God in COMPASSION, he needed to retire. He had been so long a thunder and lightning presence that he couldn’t understand God’s message of peace and forgiveness to those still allied with him in service. An addendum, however. After his greatest victory Elijah suffered his greatest humiliation. Which didn’t mean he had no future. He would quickly ordain Elisha to carry on for God, but Elijah would see Ahab killed in battle, but not Jezebel at the hand of Jehu. He then retired from earthly experience in the blaze of a “chariot of fire and horses of fire” that came in a whirlwind of fire, snatching the old man from the young and carrying him to Heaven. That didn’t represent Elijah’s end either. For on the night Jesus let his inner light explode darkness into day, who but MOSES and ELIJAH came to his side to discuss his exodus from life? God never finishes using his servants, though he may transition their field of activity from earth to Heaven, from time to eternity. For in the New Jerusalem, the only “Eternal City”…“his servants will serve him…. And they will reign forever and ever” Revelation 22:3, 5. AMEN. PRAISE GOD! End Part IX
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