Seeing Things to the End

There is a great story in 2 Kings, chapter 2 (vs. 1-14) about the old prophet Elijah. At this stage, Elijah had been going and going. He knew he was nearing the end of his life. And his disciple, Elisha is right by his side.

What’s interesting, is that three times Elijah pleads with his disciple to abandon him Three times Elisha refuses. Twice the prophets question Elisha, asking if he knows of Elijah’s departure. Twice Elisha answers yes, but ends the discussion and continues to follow his mentor.

All I can think is Elisha must have had a very deep sense of calling to this. He must have felt deep down that God had called him to follow his mentor to the end – to take up the mantle and carry it forward. Whether he heard God’s voice clear as a bell – or felt it more as a tug on the heart or a stirring in the soul, here’s a man who has a sense of what he can personally do. He can’t do everything. But he knows he wants to do what Elijah did. He wants to carry his words, his tradition, and his faith to the next generation.

And I can imagine him thinking to himself, I’m going to stick this out. I’m going to see this to the end. I don’t know for sure, but I’m going to trust that God will use me to do this… 

Now I suspect, that many of you may know something about this. That somehow you have felt a real calling to do whatever it is that you do. And at the same time, I also imagine, there may be times when you have wondered, what difference does this make? I imagine there have been times when maybe you’ve thought I’ve got so much else on my plate. Yet, you’ve stuck with it. You’ve stayed faithful.

My prayer today is for an extra measure of God’s grace and blessing for you. And whatever calling God may have placed on your heart, that you would find within it, his empowering Spirit and strength to continue. 

Let us pray: Today I thank you, O God, for your calling on each of our lives, for opportunities to touch the world around us with with your love and grace. I thank you for those who have heard your call, and for those who have stayed faithful. Please continue to heal us and renew us so that we would be channels of your peace. Amen.