Dead Cows and Burnt Plows
1 Kings 19:19-21
When Elisha accepted that God had another plan for his life; he did't have to think twice; he turned his back on his former life, destroyed all that was related to his past, and yielded everything to God.
Elijah knew ahead of time that Elisha was chosen to take his place; but he had no assurance of what response Elisha would give.
Look at a couple of others who did not respond in the same fashion.
I. Saul Struck down but did not Destroy
1st Samuel 15:9
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
A. Saul spared the life of the king Agag, maybe to have a bragging point
He wanted a personal trophy to exalt the flesh
B. Saul kept the items of most value. He was following the value system of
this world and not that of God.
God gives the best to those who will fully trust in Him.
C. Saul did not obey completely the Word of the Lord.
We cannot be selective of what we want to follow and what we don't
want.
Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
II. Peter Departed from but did not Destroy
I need to depart from the evil around me that wants to allure, but I must destroy the sin that is in my personal life. I can only depart from my neighbors' sin, but I can terminate the sin that I have personally taken on as baggage.
Mt. 19:27
hen answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mt. 4:19,20
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Where did they leave their nets?
Evidently Peter stored some of the tools of his old trade. When he decides to take the boys fishing in John 21, he doesn't seem to have any trouble coming up with the tackle and the boat.
So quickly and so easily, Peter returned to his old trade.
III. Elisha Destroyed and became a faithful Disciple
A. Elisha was a man of means. He owned 12 yoke of oxen.
B. Elisha was a working man. He was plowing with the 12th set of oxen.
He was personally involved in his secular trade.
God doesn't call lazy people to serve him.
C. Elisha was a man ready to serve. He immediately made a decision,
destroyed all that could tempt him to return to his former life.
He used his plow for firewood and his cows for meat for his
going away party.
D. Elisha was a man of Decided Dismissal.
He gave his former life the "permanent wave".
1. He gave up his family
2. He gave up his friends
3. He gave up his financial security
Conclusion: Have you killed your sacred cows? Have you burned those things that would like to call you again to your former life in a moment of weakness?
Accept the call of God without reservations. Don't be filling your closet with items from the past. Trust completely in God.
