Saw that….
1 King 19:3”when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness…”
Mightiest of achievements is ephemeral! Can I get your attention today please! Every highest record would be surpassed and broken one day! Today there is an insatiable thirst to supersede and outshine, competition is healthy but it is not everything. Ask the superstar who has given a box office hit show, be it ‘Tiger’ or whatever, the hero is scared of failure and there is a demonic hunger to outwit the collection the next time and that is why the movies are getting dirtier, gorier and filthier. Friend, be on your guard! Keep your focus on Jesus and never take your eyes off Him and that is what would give you everlasting joy, peace and victory. Elijah had a great victory on mount Carmel after killing 850 false prophets. This was no ordinary meeting, the devil was defeated and crushed. Do you hear me? Even after witnessing such a spectacular presence of God, the most gutsy prophet can still get shaky and scared, even if a woman threatens to kill is a lesson that we should learn today and be alert! Don’t be proud and a religious nut by boasting that you pray everyday and read the Bible; nevertheless the devil would still have a continuous eye on you. Beware! The devil in the form of an idol worshipping woman dared to send a message to prophet Elijah that she would kill him the next day and the devil even sets a date for that. Imagine!
The words ‘saw that’ caught my attention and stirred me to meditate further on the circumstances that scared the bold prophet Elijah. Did you know at times we tend to view things wrongly? The good seems to be bad and bad seems to be good. Not all apples that look gorgeous and delicious on the outside are entirely tasty on the inside; at times the inner portion is rotten and also sour. Beware! Hence, very carefully use wisdom to analyze situations in life. When death and famine stared daggers at Ruth and Orpah, only Ruth was able to see Jehovah behind the scene, hence she took a step of faith and walked behind Him, whereas like many of the Christians today Orpah walked back to her old life. Listen friends! Let Bible be your instruction manual today, nothing else, I repeat nothing else. When Elijah saw the threat, he failed to see what God can do but gave in to fear, Elijah allowed his focus to wander away from God. All of us tend to relax after a great show of victory, don’t we? But champions don’t relax! Mary Kom, 2012 Olympic Bronze medal winner, from Manipur said that she was now not going sit basking in the glory of the victory but she was going to get ready for the 2016 Olympics for a gold medal. That’s the spirit! Many of us are sleeping and allowing the devil to plant weeds in our marriage and life. Further Elijah instead of running to the presence of God when he was scared ran in the wrong direction away from Him trying to take shelter and solace under a Juniper tree. How many of you are hiding under a Juniper tree today? Get up and come to His presence today. Are you there? 1 Chronicles 16:27 says, “Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.” Amen. Do not try to run the show of your life in your own strength, you would miserably fail. Start the day with prayer and keep running from the strength that you draw from His presence. Corrie Ten Book asked: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”
Friend, when the devil strikes us with fear, we got to open the Bible instead of running to the phone for help. When the devil points his finger at you and says, ‘your life is finished’, you point back and say, ‘greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world’. Amen. Those of you who are going through severe trials in your life don’t look around for short cuts or some prophet to come and lay hands on you and pray, you now stretch your hands towards God and plead for help.
Did you know fear is opposite of faith? Faith is just trusting God in the dark to take you through the valley of death safely and deliver you on the shore. David said: ‘When I am afraid I will trust thee Lord.” (Psalm 56:3)
