FW: [inspirationdaily] The Test of Perseverance
Evidence Chikwenhure
May 2, 2011
The Test of Perseverance
God anointed Elisha with a double portion of the anointing that Elijah had.
This was God's seal of approval on Elisha's life. But before God anointed him
thus, he had been tested.
As in the case of all true servants of God, Elisha too was called to the ministry
while he was faithfully doing his secular duties.
"Elijah found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve
pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to
him and threw his mantle on him."(1 Kings 19:19).
Thereafter, Elisha spent many years doing menial jobs for the prophet Elijah.
He was known as the one "who used to pour water on the hands of
Elijah."(2 Kings 3:11b).
He did not seek great things for himself, but God had great plans for that
young man.
Before Elijah went up to heaven, Elisha had to be tested. And so Elijah told
Elisha to stay on in Gilgal, while he himself went on to Bethel. Elisha refused to stay back and was
determined to go with Elijah. At Bethel, Elijah
again tried to shake off Elisha by saying that he had to go to Jericho; but Elisha stuck on like a leech.
Finally, at Jericho,
Elisha was tested once more in a similar way. Again, Elisha passed the test of
persistence and accompanied Elijah to Jordan. It was thus that he got the
double portion of the anointing - God's best for his life (2 Ki.2:1-14).
What is the message here for us? There are various stages in our spiritual
development at which God tests us to see whether we are satisfied with what we
have already received or whether we will press on to God's highest.
Gilgal stands for the place where our sins are forgiven.
"The Lord said to Joshua, `Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt
from you.' So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day."(Josh.
5:8-9).
Many Christians get thus far and stop there.
Some press on till Bethel (meaning 'the house of God') - which stands for
fellowship with believers in the family of God.
"And Jacob called the name of that place Bethel. Then Jacob said, `This
stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house.'" (Gen.
28:19,22).
Some stop here.
But a few go still further to Jericho - which stands for the manifestation of
the supernatural power of God.
"The people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat... and
they took the city (of Jericho)."(Josh. 6:20).
This is as far as most Christians ever go.
Very, very few go all the way to Jordan - which stands for identification with
Christ in His death, as symbolized in baptism.
"Then Jesus arrived at the Jordan, coming to John, to be baptized by
him."(Mt. 3:13).
Very, very few are willing to walk the way of the cross - "the new and
living way that Jesus has inaugurated for us through His flesh." (Heb.
10:20).
But it is these few, who are wholehearted enough to press on to total death to
self, who receive the double portion - God's best.
All of us are being tested today, as to what stage we will stop at.
He who has ears to hear let him hear.
Remember
Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done, for Christ will last.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Love & Prayers,
Michael J. Knight.
What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
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