“I’ll Fly Away”

2 Kings 2: 1-14

I don’t know if you have noticed this or not, but life goes by really fast!  Periodically I have moments when I’m struck by the brevity of life. On the family farm in Minnesota is a bunch of trees.  Trees that my dad played under when he was a boy, trees I played under when I was younger, and trees that my kids will, hopefully, someday play under.  Those trees were likely there before my family moved in and will likely be there when my family moves out.  Those trees are constant, and unless someone pulls them out, they will be there for a long, long time.  

Do you ever think about how fast life flies by?  Some of you are looking at me like, “Yeah.  Tell me about it junior!  Wait until you’ve been around eight decades, then we’ll talk about how life just flies by!

I came across this following quotation from the words of Dr. W. B. Hinson, a good old Baptist preacher.  He was speaking from the pulpit a year after he was diagnosed with the illness from which he ultimately died: "I remember a year ago when a doctor in this city said, 'You have an illness from which you won’t recover.' " I walked out to where I live, five miles out of this city, and I looked across at that mountain that I love, and I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul.

"Then in the evening I looked up into the great sky where God was lighting his lamps, and I said: 'I may not see you many more times, but, Mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and, River, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; and, Stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets in the great down-pulling of the material universe!"'

With all the reminders of the brevity of life, I praise the Lord for the simple truth of John 6:47 – Truth: He who believes has eternal life.

This morning we bring our study of the prophet Elijah to a close.  As abruptly as Elijah entered the pages of Scripture in 1 Kings 17, he will exit the pages of Scripture here in our text.  What a journey Elijah has been on!  Trained in the Kerith Ravine, shaped and refined in Zeraphath, magnificently used on the peak of Mount Carmel, given strength to stand toe to toe and nose to nose with Ahab on more than one occasion, and finally, given the companionship of his friend and protégé, Elisha.  A wonderful display of heroism and humility is about to come to a close, but hopefully, will forever be remembered in our hearts.  I trust this study has had an effect on you like it has on me.  I have seen my faith in God grow, and I have seen Erin and I become stronger and more firmly rooted in the promises of God through this study on Elijah and one simple phrase from James 5, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…”  NIV says he was a man just like us.  All the things Elijah did, he didn’t do through any power of his own, but through the power of the Almighty!  That power is at our disposal today and we can have the same impact.

I.                   A Tour of Reflection (vs. 1-6)

We are going to see Elijah and Elisha visiting 3 different places in this portion, Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho.  I want to show you the significance of these places.

 ¹ Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

It is widely believed, and I think pretty strongly implicated in the text, that Elijah and Elisha both knew what was going to happen.  The LORD had somehow revealed it to them.  We will see later, that the LORD seems to have revealed His plan to many of the prophets at that time.  So we have these two friends walking along knowing what is about to happen. 

They are on their way back from Gilgal.  As I’ve mentioned a few times throughout this study, Biblical locations are very significant.  Elijah’s final tour was not a haphazard one.  It was a well mapped out route, a route designed for reflection.

Gilgal is the place of beginning.  According to Joshua 4, Gilgal is where the children of Israel camped just after they crossed the Jordan into Canaan.  This is where they would have stayed in the days prior to their journey into enemy territory.  It was the final place of safety and rest for the Israelites.  A place where they felt safe and secure and listened to the words of Joshua, giving instructions and a battle plan that he received directly from the LORD.  It was a place where they were on the brink of war, but not quite there yet.  Gilgal was the place of beginning for Elijah’s final journey.

 ² And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, 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.   ³And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?”  And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

Next stop, Bethel.  Bethel was the place of prayer.  Beth means house, El means God.  This is the place where Abraham built an altar and where he often met with his Lord (Genesis 12:8).  During Abraham’s times of searching and struggles he would often return to this place, the place where he had first communed with and worshipped God.

It’s likely that as Elijah was walking through the streets of Bethel he would be reflecting on the altars of his own life.  First there was the altar at the brook Kerith, where he had to trust God for food and shelter.  He was a wanted man and needed protection.  Elijah’s communion with God was never stronger than it was in that ravine.

Elijah’s next altar was at Zeraphath where he stayed with a widow and her son who were about to starve to death.  At that place Elijah brought there daily needs before his God.  He saw the LORD provide miraculously as the jar of flour and the bottle of oil never ran dry.  It was through those events that Elijah’s faith matured to the point where he could, with confidence, take the widow’s dead son into his arms and breath new life into his body.  How could Elijah ever forget the lessons learned at the altar of Zeraphath? 

As he walked the streets of Bethel, Elijah saw the altars of his own life pass in review.  I don’t think there was much talking on this stroll.  Elisha knew that Elijah was reflecting on his life.  I believe that is why Elisha tells the sons of the prophets (vs. 3) to keep quiet.  Out of respect for Elijah, please let him think. 

⁴ 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. ⁵ The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?”  And he answered, “Yes, I know; keep quiet.”

Elijah’s farewell tour now takes us to Jericho.  Jericho was the place of battle.  Jericho was the place where God’s people had driven a wedge into the opposition.  Chuck Swindoll says, “Jericho was to the Hebrews what D-day was to the Americans in World War II.  It was Normandy for God’s people.  Jericho was a city of magnificent and vivid memories.” 

I imagine Elijah playing in his head the scene of the wall tumbling, perhaps hearing the swish of the arrows flying through the air and the cries of the enemy.  No doubt that in that moving place of battle, Elijah replayed some of the battles of his own life.

At Mount Carmel he battled the evil forces of Baal.  And we must not forget his numerous with Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel.  And, of course, we have the battle with his own self under the broom tree as he feared for his life.

On the last day of his life, Elijah relived and revisited the battles of his life.

⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.  But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”

Last stop, the Jordan.  Here is the scene of one of the greatest events in biblical history.  I want to take a minute and talk about another pattern that we’ve seen in this journey.  Before Elijah heads off to each new destination, he tries to get Elisha to stay behind.  I don’t believe he’s trying to ditch Elisha, or get rid of him, but rather putting him to the test.  “Elisha, you may not want to go with me to Gilgal, or Bethel, or Jericho, and certainly not to the Jordan.”  But Elisha was relentless.  He stayed by his mentor’s side.

There is a phrase used in football to describe a defensive player who very closely guards his offensive opponent.  If the defender stays on the offensive player the entire time, they will say that he was “in his shirt.”  That’s Elisha.  He’s saying to Elijah, “I’m in your garment of hair, my friend, you’re not getting rid of me.” 

Look at the end of verses 2, 4 and 6.  “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”  We need a few Elisha’s in our lives don’t we?  They bring us strength and encouragement.  Too often our “friends” split when things get tough.  When we’re going through hard times we look around and find few, or none, left to support us.  If you have an Elisha, go to them and thank them for their support.  Have you been an Elisha for someone?  Make an effort to do so! 

Up until now, Elijah has been a mentor and friend to the new young prophet.  Elisha came along at just the right time in Elijah’s life and now it’s time for Elisha to fly solo. 

II.                A One-way ticket to GLORY!

 ⁷ Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them as they both were standing by the Jordan.  ⁸ Then Elijah took his cloak and tolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. ⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.”  And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” ¹⁰ And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.”

This miracle is reminiscent of the one that occurred with Moses and the children of Israel at the Red Sea.  It is also reminiscent of the miracle that took place when Joshua led the children of Israel into the promise land across the Jordan.

On the other side, Elijah turns to his friend and asks, “What can I do for you before I go?”  In our day it’s the person who is going to die that usually gets a last request, but Elijah’s not dying, he’s being translated!  So he wants to know what he can do for Elisha before he goes to a better place.  Notice Elisha’s immediate response.  This is a man who thinks big!  He says to his mentor “You have done great things on this earth, and I would like to have twice as much power!”  What a grand request! 

Don’t be afraid to ask great things of God.  William Carey said: "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." That’s exactly what Elisha is doing here.  Far too many Christians have a limited mindset.  We could all learn a thing or two from Elisha.

Yet even Elijah, who has asked great things of God, is a bit taken aback by this request.  “That’s a tough one” he tells Elisha.  “But, if you’re here when I’m taken it’s yours; if not, it’s not”.  Now, I find it interesting that this statement comes after Elisha has already proven his determination not to leave Elijah’s side.  You can bet that Elisha’s determination level just went up!  There was no way Elisha is leaving Elijah’s side now!  He didn’t have to wait long.

¹¹ And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them.  And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

I love the fact that they were just walking and talking.  Elijah doesn’t appear to be preaching, just having a conversation with his good friend.  “I’ll see ya later, Elisha.”  They’re just walking and talking.  Then in an instant, chariots of fire with horses of fire come between the two and Elijah is taken up.  Just like that, he’s gone.  Life goes by so quickly!  Elijah is here one moment and gone the next. 

Elisha saw the chariots, heard the horses and the WHOOSH! Elijah is gone.  The whirlwind undoubtedly blew against Elisha’s robe, and hair and beard.  AMAZING MOMENT!  And Elisha cries out in awe.

¹² And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father!  The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. ¹³ And he took up the cloak of Elijah that ha d fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Elijah, prophet of power…gone, Elisha, prophet of double power…here, ready and about to be used greatly by his God.  If you read on about the life of Elisha, and study closely, you will see that Elisha performs exactly twice the number of miracles that Elijah performed. 

We learn from this that when a man of woman of God dies, nothing of God dies.  We tend to forget this.  We get so caught up in the lives of certain individuals that we begin to think we cannot function without them.  What limited thinking!         

III.             Conclusion

This is the second instance of a godly man’s life being spared.  Only one other person in the history of the Bible got to experience this kind of departure from Earth.  Genesis 5:24 tells us that “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”  What a wonderful way to go!

On Wednesday nights, Pastor Kevin has been teaching through Revelation.  The end times are kicked of with an event we call the Rapture.  Those of us who are here to experience this event, which can happen at any time, will experience the same kind of  rapturous experience that Enoch and Elijah did.  This is what we have to look forward to! 

But, while we’re here God expects us to be busy about His work.  Just like Elijah and Elisha, God wants us to live lives that are consumed with doing his will.  Whether it’s confronting evil leaders, consoling grieving mothers, feeding a starving family, or calling down fire from heaven, God wants us to be busy about doing the things that he’s called us to.

ALTERNATE OPENING:

Sometimes there is a tone among Christians that death is the ultimate tragedy of life.  If you’re an atheist, sure.  Death is the most tragic thing that could ever happen.  But understand, death is now the door by which the Christian enters into the glorious loving presence of Jesus Christ.  I don’t mean to say that we should have a death wish.  I understand that the process of physical death is excruciating.  But each Christian can look forward to the wonderful privilege of dying.  The moment you die, you are taken into the glorious presence of Almighty Glorious King Jesus.

It’s amazing to think that this glory was part of the nature of Christ all along!  What if he would have put on this display of his glory when he was in the manger!  I imagine all the people in the stable, Mary Joseph, the shepherds, and little baby Jesus blazes them with his glory!  The baby in that manger was the glorious God of all creation.  Jesus was god before he was born, during his life!

We have been on a wonderful journey with Elijah!  We have seen some astounding things!  You will recall how he arrived like a bolt of lightning onto the scene of history confronting Ahab and Jezebel for the Baal worship!  He was fed by the ravens as he was cut down to size in Cherith Ravine.  He was refined in the smelting furnace of Zeraphath where the biscuits flowed and child was raised to life.  We traveled with Elijah to the cool heights of Carmel to confront the prophets of Baal and see the glory of God in the form of fire.  We went out to the distant craggy peaks of Mt. Sinai and heard the gentle whisper.  We stood behind Elijah walking though Naboth’s Vineyard to rebuke Ahab’s treachery.  We have seen so much done in Elijah’s life through the power of God!

I want you to notice here the suddenness with which God took Elijah away.  It says they were walking along and talking.  Then, whoosh!  In a flash the chariot appears and Elijah is taken!  The text says, suddenly!  Now throughout this text, it is clear that Elijah knew that the Lord was going to come for him very soon, yet he did know the precise moment! 

Likewise, let’s always be ready for the return of Christ.  We know that Christ is coming soon, but not the exact moment!  Jesus said, Behold I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me!  Elijah was walking along, conversing, no doubt encouraging people when God came for him!  Likewise, we want to be found at the center of God’s will!  Let’s be ready!  Are you ready?  That is a great litmus test for your spirituality! 

“The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement”:  The goal of the Temple Mount Faithful is the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in our lifetime in accordance with the Word of G-d and all the Hebrew prophets and the liberation of the Temple Mount from Arab (Islamic) occupation so that it may be consecrated to the Name of G-d.

Half the seven years, the Jews will worship at the temple.  Half-way through the antichrist sets himself up to be worshipped in the temple!  At this point, God sends two prophets to come and preach righteousness!