We have to be Faithful to the End

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-6

And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.  Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.  Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be still.”  Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.  The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be still.”  Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

Insights:  This weeks sermon was titled Adventures Leave a Legacy and we looked at four elements required of us in order to leave a legacy.  The first point found in today’s verses is in order for us to leave a legacy we have to be faithful to the end.  Notice Elijah goes from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan.  Also notice at each of these locations there are prophets present speaking with Elisha and though the text does not specifically mention it, they were talking with Elijah as well.  Each of these conversations show us the prophets knew Elijah was about to be taken to heaven and later we learn Elijah himself also knew he was being taken by the Lord.  Even though the passage does not say it explicitly, it is my opinion Elijah is going to these prophetic schools giving them his final words of encouragement and counsel.  He is demonstrating before these prophets and Elisha the proper way to serve the Lord faithfully to the end.  Beloved, we have too many people that check out of serving the Lord as time progresses.  Let me encourage you to follow the example of Elijah of the Old Testament and Paul of the New Testament.  Using Paul’s language, he finished the race and he ran the course faithfully to the end.  Let us live our lives with this same kind of tenacity and faithfulness.

Questions:

1.  Have you stopped serving the Lord?

2.  Are you running faithfully to the end?

Prayer: Father, may my life exhibit the qualities of Elijah and Paul who both ran their race to the very end and received Your reward to them.  Amen.