Toward the Mark - 1989 - 6 by T. Austin-Sparks

Author:T. Austin-Sparks [Austin-Sparks, T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The check on Elisha's loyalty repeated at each staging-post reminds us of the incident on the journey made by Jesus and the two disciples to Emmaus. 'As they approached the village to which they were going Jesus acted as if he were going further'. The test, doubtless deliberately devised, issues in a response similar to Elisha's -- 'They urged him strongly "stay with us"' He accompanies them to the journey's end. It is this calibre of determined devotion that is required of us.

Having crossed the Jordan, Elijah turns to Elisha and asks 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?'. It is a searching question. 'What, above all else, do you want?'. The invitation, as Solomon was later to find, probes deeply, uncovering our controlling desires, disclosing our secret ambitions. As for Elisha, the tremendous responsibility of carrying forward the work Elijah had done produces in him the awareness of a great lack. The only remedy is an empowering by the same Spirit that had energized Elijah. His is a noble response. Put in today's terms it is for the Holy Spirit in his fulness to transform, equip and enable for all the will of God. But this is not within Elijah's competence to bestow, for such a blessing no man can grant, only God Himself. It is, however, a legitimate request and Elijah tells Elisha how it may he his. 'If you see me when I am taken from you it will be yours -- otherwise not.' 'It is dependent on your being willing to go all the way -- right to the end'. It is in this sense that it is 'a hard thing'. Whilst [111/112] it is true that the good gifts of God are never earned or deserved but graciously bestowed, yet they are not given to the indolent, but to the determined and devoted.

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