The Daily Word

 

Elijah was a prophet of distinction, he was one of the two people recorded in the Bible who never died but was carried up to heaven alive. The other one was one of the earliest patriarchs, Enoch. Elijah faced off a wicked king of Israel called Ahab and his even more wicked wife, Jezebel. The country had turned away from God and was following and worshipping a pagan God, Baal.

Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a contest between their god and the true God and ensured that a massive audience watched the contest, which basically consisted of whether Elilah’s God or Baal could call down fire on to a sacrifice on an outdoor altar. Needless to say, the true God won a massive victory. But fearing for his life from Ahab, Elijah fled into the wilderness and fell into a state of depression. He felt he was alone in worshipping God in the whole land of Israel, until God reassured him that there were some thousands of people who were still following Him.

The feeling of being alone or loneliness affects us all at times when we feel let down by friends and family or other adverse circumstance in life press on us. But I really want to reassure us that this is entirely contrary to God’s character and what the Bible teaches. It is vital for us to ensure our minds and hearts latch on to these words in Hebrews 13 that were spoken by God’s Son: “I will never leave you or forsake you!”

We can shut off contact with God, we can be discouraged, we can even think He doesn’t care about us. But He cannot change His character or His mind. We shut Him out, lose contact with Him and effectively allow Satan to manipulate our thoughts. The basic first temptation that Adam and Eve yielded to started from the words spoken by Satan to bring doubt into their minds, “Has God said?” Well, as far as His care and presence are concerned in our lives, GOD HAS SAID! We are never alone, we are never not loved by Him, we are never out of His care!

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church