From 2 Kings 2:1-12:
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent." 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.
At first reading of this powerful passage there are a lot of stories happening in this one story. Elijah is about to leave this earth, and that is a big deal, especially for Elisha, his understudy. They are traveling to the place where Elijah is about to be taken. It is difficult for Elisha to say goodbye to Elijah. There are other prophets who seem to be enjoying telling Elisha that his mentor is about to leave earth. Enough already, shut up! Elijah performs a miracle in divides the Jordan River. They cross it on dry ground. Any last requests from me, asks Elijah? The younger prophet asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Difficult request, but doable. A chariot of fire appears pulled by horses of fire. They take Elijah up to Heaven. Elisha mourns his departure.
Elijah had a tremendous ministry. I wish I could say he never wavered nor felt doubt. He did. He even sought to go home before it was time. But God used him in mighty ways even on his last day on earth. And Elijah's reward was that he did not experience death. He got a free ride up on this amazing chariot of fire right to the doors of Heaven. And Elisha was a witness to this amazing thing. His request was even granted; a double portion of Elijah's spirit to be faithful in the ministry that he was to begin.
The easiest thing to say is that God is involved in all of this. In the good and the bad, in the easy and the difficult, we can count on God's presence and power. In the loudness of other voices and influences we have the right to say enough already, shut up! In the miracles of life, both the expected and unexpected, God is awesome. And, important lesson, life never ends for those who walk with God. God is involved in your life. God is involved in your ministry. God will provide all you need to be faithful to Him. What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Loving God, again I pray asking that the awe factor that I find in You never fade. You are an awesome God and I seek to delight in You. Give me strength; lift me up. Help me to see beyond what I see to the unseen, to the glorious in that realm that is You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
