Death is coming.
It surely is coming. We may not be sure of much else in our future but we all know we are going to die.
What if you knew the exact day you were going to die? The story of Elijah tells us that not only did he know the day he was going to be taken away from this world but he knew somewhat how he would be taken.
2 Kings 2:1-12
“When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 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.”
Mentorship
But what stuck in my heart in this story is the relationship of the teacher / mentor and his student or we can even say two close friends.
It was obvious here the love that Elisha had for his mentor Elijah. Everywhere Elijah went he refused to leave him. Every time the prophets mentioned Elijah’s departure from this earth, Elisha refused to speak of it. How it must have saddened him to know his friend was leaving him! A man he considered a father.
Reflection
Food for thought: Death is coming. So are we living our lives in a way that we are mentoring / teaching the younger generation about Christ? Are we seeking the light of Christ to go with us daily?
Prayer: Father, increase my faith that I will never leave your side. Guide me in ways that I can bring others close to you. Amen