Quiet Time Coaching Episode 459 | New Thing Series — Part 14 | “Elisha’s Experience” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I’m Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Today we explore Elisha’s experience.

“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.” 2 Kings 2:11-15

Why did God take Elijah up into heaven in a whirlwind? Why did He honour this great prophet in such a way as to escape death? Why did He not let Elijah go through the normal, common, natural passage of death?

Elijah is a model of faithfulness to the end

  • To be sure, he had his ups and downs. He struggled with fear, anxiety, and perhaps depression.
  • But, he was a very human model of zeal, humility and openness to God’s will for his life.

Elijah is a model of the reward that awaits the faithful

  • This demonstration of the liminal proximity of the earthly and heavenly remind us that our eternal reward is not distant, but close.
  • “It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:12-13 NIV11)

Elijah is a type of the Christ

  • “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:9-11 NIV11)
  • Jesus move from the earthly to the heavenly without any break in his relationship with God. We will experience something similar.

For Reflection
Sometimes Christians can be too humble to rejoice in their reward. Perhaps it feels too mercenary to contemplate the benefits that come to us in the next life. However, this would be a mistake. Instead, why not take some time today to thank God in advance for your eternal reward. Take some time to imagine what it would be like. It is very real, very certain, and waiting for you.

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

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“Carpe Diem” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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