Background (1 Kings 18): 450 idol prophets; 2 altars, 1 fire;
Elijah stood up to 450 prophets of Baal but ran for his life when one woman threatened him (1 Kings 19:3-8).
Elijah wanted to die, he had poured out his life for God and felt it had no impact. He was tired and in despair, depressed. Sometimes our lowest lows follow our highest highs. He experienced a great spiritual success and now was criticized and hunted down. “I’ve had it, take me home.” Further, he felt he was all alone, 19:10. He wasn’t (19:18: 7000) but it felt like it.
__________ was devoted to Jesus. He wanted to do more for God. He felt that who he was and what he’d done was not enough. He struggled with feeling that he was not good enough. He didn’t have some of the talents and abilities of others, things came hard and felt alone at times. God provided Elijah rest, bread and water (nice treat in the wilderness). This refreshed him and encouraged him. I’d like to try to offer some rest, bread and water in light of some of what I learned from this tragic happening.
1. Don’t make decisions at 3 AM you cannot undo when the sun is up.
There is a reason creation began with light, Jesus called himself the light of the world and Satan is called the prince of darkness. The darkness of 3 AM can cover all the good in your life and make you feel hopeless and helpless. If one does not intentionally focus on God and His goodness at 3 AM what will naturally overwhelm your mind like a flood are all your failures and disappointments and discouragements. If you weren’t depressed before you can become so. And it may seem like you have no chance of making things better ever and have no choice but doing everybody a favor and ending your life. But, if you will go back to bed and get some rest, the sun will come up and you will be able to see God’s goodness in your life. If _________ had waited until the sun came up maybe he would have seen and heard some of the things that his peers said about him when they gathered in this very room to share memories and fondness of him. It would have encouraged him to see the impact he had on people with his love and devotion to Jesus.
2. For many, maybe most, life really starts after High School.
It is after High School that many of us finally get to do what we are made for. I talked with one friend and he said he graduated last in his class and now out-earns everyone he graduated with. I did not do well in high school as little of it caught my interest compared to other things that did. I did better in college and better than that in graduate school—even taking some classes at Harvard. Not bad for low Bs and high Cs.
______ struggled in High School. It took him longer than many to complete assignments, it was hard. He stressed over it. But, if you do as good as you can and escape, I mean graduate, you can move on to what you really can and want to do.
3. Teens, talk through big ideas with an adult you trust and respect…and listen to them.
There is a whole book of the Bible devoted to that thought, Proverbs. A dad shares with his kids about life and wisdom. Do you know why that is in there? One reason has been discovered by studying the brain: the brains of adolescents are not fully developed. The part that is not developed helps you to put things in a proper perspective. The brains of young people tend to make them think that things that are temporary are eternal, and things that are eternal are temporary. So, when something temporary happens, like you flunk a test or a friend hurts you it seems like your life is over. But, when something big happens, like choices which cannot be undone, too little thought is given and young people often act on their impulses. I don’t know this for sure, but from things I heard I have my doubts that _____ really understood what he was doing last TH at 3 AM. I don’t think his emotional state nor his brain allowed him to.
Young people, I know we may not be hip to all that is new and the latest fads, but us older people tend to have a better handle of what matters most. Before you do something which cannot be undone, talk with someone older, and LISTEN. Someone who is mature will help you see what is temporary and what is eternal or long-lasting so you can make a wise choice.
4. You and I are not Jesus. We cannot save anyone.
I like many of you have been beating myself up over what I could or should have done. I am the only Pastor ______ ever knew. He probably heard 600 of my sermons or more. He would serve during our worship service doing the powerpoint. The person who does sound right next to him told me that he would listen intently to my sermons, he would follow my outline and take notes. When I heard that it was like being hit over the head, I thought, “If I was preaching right, or better I could have stopped this from happening. If I did better he wouldn’t have done this.”
Certainly I can preach better, and certainly all of us can show more love and appreciation and give more encouragement to one another. But none of can control what other people do. None of us did all that we could have, but many did much. He made a wrong decision, a bad choice. And, unfortunately it is one he can’t take back.
Many of you, especially (parents and siblings) did much for him. (Youth Pastor) taught him good stuff and gave him opportunities to grow and express his faith. ______ did what he did not because of what we failed to do, but in spite of all that was done for him. He got to a point one night where he felt not even what Jesus did for him and promised to him was enough.
Certainly there are things to learn and change, but let us not beat ourselves up over what we did or did not do. I know that is natural, but it is a small part of the story. Truth is, the more I learned about ______ these past days and saw expressed by so many, the less this makes sense. He certainly had his struggles. But he was loved. He was appreciated. He was fun. We will never know all of why he did what he did but we can rest assured that outside of being with him 24/7 we probably could not have stopped him from doing what he did. He did this in spite of what you all did for him. It doesn’t make sense, but it happened. You and I are not Jesus.
5. What I wish I could re-affirm to ______. There are 3 parts to salvation and faith in Christ that make us Christian and the end result if worth waiting for.
The first is: Justification—this is the first step where we put our faith and trust in Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit we come to believe that Jesus was God’s son, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay for your sins, then rose again to prove that sins can be forgiven and there is life after death. When you believe that and confess it with your mouth, God gives you all the good Jesus did and credits to your account and takes all the wrong you have done and will ever do and all the good you did not do but should have and puts it on Jesus. At that point you are accepted by God forever and always, you have justification: just as if you never sinned,
The second part is sanctification, a process that goes on as long as you live on this earth. We will never be what we will be, but we can progress so that we are not who we were. This can be frustrating for people who yearn to be better fast. ______ was such a one. He wanted more of God, more out of himself, more impact. More, more, more. What sanctification tells us that if the desire is there and the sincere and faithful effort, more will come. Truth is the closer one gets to God in their understanding and relationship the further they can feel from what they should be as they see how perfect and holy and awesome God is. This can be twisted by the Enemy, especially in the wee hours of a dark morning, to make you feel like you are not worthy and never will be good enough.
The truth is, we are good enough in Christ and will actually be that good one day. The third part of salvation is glorification. When we reach heaven and see Jesus face to face all that we have been becoming will be brought to a glorious conclusion in who we will be forever.
I would love to tell ______ , trust the process. Your desire is good. Your efforts are good. Now, wait on the Lord. You will see Him work he is preparing you for what he has for you. We never get all of salvation all at once, but what is next is worth waiting for.
6. And lastly, When you are shaken up, keep doing what keeps you solid.
I saw this in (parents). From the first time they communicated with me and in every moment I have been with them since, the faith they have developed over the years has given them strength. They have believed God is a rock and he has held steady during this most life-shaking event one can experience.
Many have said to me, “How does one go through something like this without faith and a church family?” Not well. I have seen it eat people up. Thing is, you don’t have to find out what it is like to go through something like this or any of the tragedies that can happen in life without faith or a church family. Why? Because the same faith that is upholding (parents) is available to you. I believe Jesus is calling each of you today to put your faith in him, or to re-commit to your faith.
Confess your need of a Savior. Confess Jesus to be that Savior. Thank him for loving you enough to die on the cross for your sins, and ask him to come into your life so that you can begin to live towards heaven.
It is not a faith that will keep all problems from you. It is not a faith that will make you perfect overnight. But it is a faith that can receive forgiveness for the worst mistake you can make. ______ has found that forgiveness. He did not commit the unforgiveable sin, that is not putting your faith in Jesus. He did that. He made a mistake, a big mistake, a sin. And we are all hurting because of it. But, he is hurting no more. He is now who he has always wanted to be.
After Elijah ate the bread and drank the water God provided and got some much needed rest, God met with him. God told him to go back to what he tried to run away from. He told him there were 7000 others who believed like he did and that he was not alone. He did and finished strong in his life. And you know what happened? Elijah, who wanted to die, is one of 3 who were taken up to heaven without dying.
One of the others is Jesus who promised that if you believe in him, even if you die, you will live forever and eternally in his heaven…with ______. I hope this and what others have shared have been like Elijah’s bread, water and rest and that you can go back to your life with more faith and hope to serve the Living God.
1. Don’t do something at 3 AM you can’t undo when the sun comes up.
2. For many, maybe most, life really begins after high school.
3. Teens, talk through big ideas with an adult who trust and respect, and listen.
4. You and I not Jesus and we cannot save anyone.
5. There are three parts to salvation and the end result is worth waiting for.
6. When your life gets shaken, keep doing what makes you solid; or start trusting the only one who can help you withstand it.
Praise be to the God who loves us and has provided for our eternal life in Jesus Christ.
