June 21
2 Kings 1:1-2:25 | PS 139:1-24 | Prov 17:19-21 | Acts 13:42-14:7
Elisabeth Eliot who lost her first husband, Jim, tragically on the mission field in Ecuador said, "Some of us know little of suffering, but we know disappointments and betrayals and losses and bitterness. Are we really meant to thank God for such things? Let's be clear about one thing. God does not cause all the things we don't like. But He does permit them to happen because it is a fallen world that we humans must learn to walk by faith. He doesn't leave us to ourselves, however, He shares every step." There is no shortage of suffering in this life for all of us. We need to understand that God allows this for our own growth. All too often we choose to avoid it, medicate it, run from it, rather than walk with Him through it. There is nothing wrong when the suffering person seeks some horizontal assistance from others, but may we never neglect our vertical guidance from the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He will walk us through the lowest valleys and the highest mountains. He is always there, it is often us who choose not to seek Him.
Elijah walked strongly with God as His prophet during very hostile times. He knew he was to be taken up, as did his successor, Elisha. Multiple times on his last day, Elijah attempted to distance himself from Elisha, but Elisha would not permit it. We then read of the moment, the rapture of Elijah into heaven in 2 Kings 2:11-12, "As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress." Notice, despite the knowledge of his leaving, the fact that Elijah did not suffer in the slightest, Elisha felt the sting of earthly separation and "tore his clothes in distress". But then he sought God and God walked alongside Elisha throughout his life.
Most in our lives will not meet as nice an ending as Elijah. More often than not there will be pain and suffering. Our purpose is to lead others to the Father and walk them home. Even when we know where they are going there is nothing wrong with feeling the distress of this separation, but this is when we need to look towards God for comfort and guidance. Also, we must remember that no one is taken accidentally or prematurely, as we read in Psalm 139:16, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Yes, we were all born with a death date, and our God who is outside of time has already seen our departure from this earth. We need to comfort ourselves in this. We need to make the main thing the main thing. We need to all engage in a real relationship with the Father, through His Son, Jesus. We need to get to know Him and abide in Him daily through His Word, the Bible. We should all focus on His words directly, as more important than authors who write books about Him. When Jesus died He eliminated the need for intermediaries, He wants to know and walk alongside each of us, side by side, personally. Will you let Him do this? Will you choose to engage Him? For He never leaves us, it is us who choose to distance ourselves from Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: