The Call of Elisha

 

 

 

 

 

1 Kings 19:19-21

July 20, 2021

 

The Call of Elisha

So, he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.   And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

 

These few verses about the calling of Elisha open a door to has God called all to Salvation.  If we go to John 3:16-18, we see the heart of God,  ^“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  It ends up being a personal choice,  Matthew 22:14 gives us a better understanding many have been called but few are chosen, or better said few will answer the call.   ^“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  You may recall this parable of the Wedding Banquet, how it relates to the Kingdom of Heaven, and how Jesus is telling about the king sending out his servants to invite many for the wedding banquet was for His Son.  Many had other plans and turned down the invite, some even treated the king's servants badly and kill some of them.  Do you recall the King sent out his troops to destroy the murders and burn down their cities?

 

Then the king gave this order the ones invited were not worthy, therefore go to where the roads exit and invite everyone you meet to the banquet, both good and evil.  But one man was at the wedding without wedding clothes, and when asked how he got into the banquet he had no answer, you may what to read verse 13, to see what happened to him.  It is clear you have been invited, but the Scriptures are clear that it is not your goodness, but God's love and grace.  Only the blood of Jesus gets you to the guest table of God the Father.  It comes by agreeing with Jesus that you are a sinner and need to confess your sin and ask for His forgiveness, all else fall short of being chosen.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice