Where and hat are we looking for ?

Sunday 23 May 2021

Where and what are we looking for ?

Behold, there are among thy servants fifty mighty men ; do you want them to go find your master ? 2 Kings 2:16

The episode to which today's verse relates is immediately after the rapture of Elijah, at the beginning of the ministry of Elisha, his successor.

The followers of the prophets know that God will remove Elijah, "from over the head" of Elisha (v. 5), later in the day (2 Kings 2:5). They tell Elisha, who tells them he knows it too. Staying on the banks of the Jordan, they saw Elijah smiting the waters of the river with his mantle so that he and Elisha could cross it on dry ground. They again witness the same miracle performed this time by Elisha on his return and immediately draw the relevant conclusion : The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha (v. 15). They therefore bow down to him, recognizing him as Elijah's successor.

Why then do they suggest that Elisha send fifty men in search of Elijah ? And why, faced with Elisha's refusal, although they have just seen that henceforth the spirit of Elijah is upon him, do they have to insist so much and more ? Because they think that the body of Elijah lies on "some mountain," carried away by the Spirit of the Lord (v. 16). And even Elisha is ashamed to prevent them from doing research (v. 17). But why seek on earth the one who "ascended into heaven" ? Because, despite what was revealed regarding the end of Elijah and what Elisha saw with his own eyes, their thoughts are attached to the earth.

Today the Christian knows and acts accordingly. He knows that his Lord is in the heavens from where also he awaits him ; that he is a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20) ; that he has an eternal house in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1) ; that he has an inheritance kept for him in heaven (1 Peter 1:4) ; that he is blessed with all spiritual blessings in and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3 ; 2:6) ; he knows and rejoices that his name is written in the heavens (Luke 10:20). Would he seek on earth what is in heaven ?

So if you have been resurrected with Christ, seek what is above... think of what is above, not what is on the earth (Colossians 3:1,2).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)