My Elijahs
I was having my devotion this morning and this was the scripture it started with:
2 Kings 2:11-12
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 own clothes and tore them apart.
It then followed with this editorial paragraph:
It is not wrong for you to depend on your “Elijah” for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, “I cannot continue without my ’Elijah.’ ” Yet God says you must continue.
This really got me thinking about the “Elijahs” in my life. God has blessed my life with so many wise leaders. Men who have submitted themselves to God, and in doing so were used by Him to mightily impact my life. I would not be the same person without the influence of these men. They taught me how to be a “real man.” A man who loves God, my wife, and His people. A man who seeks to give a 100% on everything he does, especially for the Kingdom. A man who is blessed to get to serve the Body of Christ.
So as Courtney and I get ready to move to Indiana and start a new chapter in our lives, I started thinking about the Elijahs that helped get me this far in life. There was one that kept returning to my mind over and over, my Father. My Dad has been leading me in my personal, professional, and spiritual life for many, many years. It was under his leadership that I dedicated my life to the Lord, started my own company, and surrendered to the ministry. So as I move into my first full-time ministry position, the only fitting description I have found is bittersweet. I am leaving my Father’s business, church, and hometown to pursue the calling God has placed on my life. I never knew such sorrow and joy could coexist in single situation.
However, by the grace of God I am not completely losing my Elijah like Elisha did. We are just increasing the distance between, but hopefully also maturing our relationship by allowing God to lead and use us as He sees fit.
So I ramble all that out to simply say…Thanks Dad. I love you.
–Wholly Surrender!