Where?

"He struck the water with Elijah's cloak and cried out, 'Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' Then the water divided and Elisha went across." 2 Kings 2:14

I remember seeing a response to Elisha's question of "Where is the God of Elijah," and it was, "He is seeking a man with the heart of Elijah." Elisha was such a man. There have been many more, both men and women. Moses was that man, as was David, Daniel, Isaiah, virtually all of the Old Testament prophets, as well as Peter, John, the disciples, Martha and Mary, and of course, the apostle Paul. Beyond these goes a line of names known only to Him, but who also possessed the heart of Elijah. The question for you and me is, are we found among those names?

What is it that marks such a heart? Certainly it is not that it gives forth perfect behavior. All of those above were flawed people. Some of them failed Him completely at times. What marked them though was that they all had hearts that pursued His heart with a passion that could not be quenched. Not by the circumstances around and before them, and not by their own failings. David was called a "man after God's own heart." David had a heart that in any and all places, would relentlessly pursue the heart of his Father. He wanted to live in His Presence, His fullness, His all. This was life. Anywhere else was not. Is this what marks us? If not, why not?

Vance Havner said, "We are so subnormal that to be normal would be counted abnormal." Why is this so? Why is it that to be a surrendered, passionate pursuer of His presence and life is considered odd and out of place in the Body of Christ? Why do we look at such and think, if not actually say that they are, "so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly good?" How did we come to be this "subnormal?" It should be, as someone put it, that we be so heavenly minded as to be of much earthly good. Judging by the state of our culture, we, His church, have not been able to accomplish much earthly good.

Elisha asked God for a double portion of the spirit that his mentor Elijah walked in. I wonder how many of us desire even a fraction of it? What would be our state if we pursued Him with even a portion of the zeal with which we pursue our own comfort and well being? Elijah and Elisha beheld wondrous miracles. How many are we seeing? How many do we even expect to see? How many of us, when facing the challenges of our day, have hearts that cry out, "Where is the God of Elijah?"

Scripture says to the effect, that His eyes roam the earth seeking those whose hearts are fully His. Those with the heart of Elijah. It is these who will behold the God of Elijah. It is these who will behold the miraculous works He'll be pouring out upon His church, and through His church, a lost nation and world. Where is the God of Elijah? He's right before us, searching our hearts to see if we may be modern day Elijah's. What is He finding, in you, and in me?

Blessings,

Pastor O