July 27

Elijah and the Flaming Chariot

             Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.  The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

            Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.  Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.  Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

                 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”  He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.”  As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.  Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

2 Kings 2:4-12

             

            One of the great blessings and curses of humanity’s existence is our awareness of our end.  We know that people do not live forever.  We live with the full knowledge that we will someday die and that those whom we love will someday die as well.  Most of the time we do not know the day or the hour and some of the sharpest losses are the ones that came unexpectedly.

            However there are some times where it is clear that the time to pass is coming quickly for someone that we know and love.  Elisha was in that place.  His friend and mentor and teacher, Elijah, was being called home by God.  Elijah had lived a full and adventurous life.  He would be known to history as the greatest of Israel’s prophets.  He had even raised up a successor in Elisha to continue the work after he had left.  Now his time had come and God had called the prophet to head out into the wilderness.

            Elisha refused to leave his friend’s side.  Elijah repeatedly told him to stay behind.  Other prophets warned him of what was coming on that day.  He refused to walk away and even requested a blessing before Elijah was taken up into the sky.  Suddenly chaos erupted with flaming horses and a chariot of fire and a great whirlwind that took the prophet away…and then there was silence and stillness and Elisha was alone.

            This life will have many good-byes in it.  Some may have already occurred for you.  We will say good-bye to our parents.  We will say good-bye to our siblings.  We will say good-bye to our friends.  We will say good-bye to our spouse.  We will say good-bye to our children.  All life ends here on earth.  All relationships come to a close.

            Except One.

            The One who defeated Death and has no fear of the Grave will never leave our side.  Jesus remains with us even if all others have passed on.  He comforts us in our Grief and encourages us with the Hope of what is to come.  For those who have put their faith in Him, those good-byes are not final.  Those relationships are not ended.  They are simply put on hold until we are all able to come together in Eternity.  Free of the baggage that we carried and the wounds that we gathered and the limitations that we endured.  Free of the fear that nagged at our hearts and minds every day.  Free of the sin that lead to us hurting the ones that we loved most.  Free to be whom we were created to be.  The good-byes that were so bitter will become reunions that are even more sweet.

            For now we live with our knowledge and our hope.  Savor the time that you have.  Lean into Jesus who is with you here and now and forever.  Remember the hope that we have been given.

A moment to reflect:

What Eternal Reunions are you most looking forward to?