There are two monumental dates in your life – the day you’re born and the day you die. You have no control over the first date and most of us do not have control over the second, but we do have control concerning the quality of our lives between those two dates. Henry David Thoreau observed in Walden, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” The sad reality is that too many people have stopped living long before they’ve died.

Elisha was a man who was not content to settle for a life of quiet desperation, but he wanted His life to count for God. Elisha was the understudy of the remarkable and well-known prophet, Elijah. Let’s take a look at this significant leadership transition,

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. (2 Kings 2:1)

Elijah asked Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha was not be deterred, he was not leaving his mentor’s side. Perhaps Elijah was testing Elisha to ascertain his level of commitment. Elisha was a man who refused to stay behind; he was a man who had learned to live without regrets. If you stay behind, the future will pass you by and you may miss the opportunities God has for you.

Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. (2 Kings 2:7)

It’s interesting to note that Elisha was not the only prophet at that time, but he was the only one who was willing to leave the comfort and safety of the known and step out into the challenge and uncertainty of the unknown. You can’t steal second base with your foot still on first base. You can choose comfort or you can choose a challenge, but you can’t choose both of them. We must ask ourselves, “Am I settling when I should be advancing?” We have a tendency to choose safety over opportunity and settle into our comfort zone rather than reaching for our destiny.

Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” (2 Kings 2:8-9)

Elijah did not ask Elisha what he could do for him until after they crossed the Jordan River. Likewise, we do not see a  miracle and experience God’s blessings if we’re hesitant (fearful) to cross the river. You don’t receive the double portion by staying at Jericho, but it requires stepping out in faith and crossing the river. Could it be that we don’t have the double portion because we’ve chosen lives that require so little of us? Elijah responds to Elisha,

He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. (2 Kings 2:10-11)

Elisha witnessed Elijah’s departure and we see the fulfillment of his request as Elisha took up Elijah’s mantle and was able to part the Jordan River,

He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.  (2 Kings 2:13-14)

God’s power is still available today, but we must ask ourselves, “Where are Elijah’s of God?” Where are the men and women who are not willing to settle for less than God’s best? When God has spoken, you don’t need clarity, but courage and conviction. You can only know victory if you risk defeat. What river is God asking you to cross?

Helen Keller reminds us, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing”. May you truly live all the days of your life.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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