The Tupelo journal., 1911-03-03
ELIJAH TAKEN UP
TO HEAVEN

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LESSON TEXT Kings 2:1-1s. Mem
DRY verses IL, II.
GOLDEN TExT-sEnoch walked with
God: and he was not; for God took him..
Gen. SPA.
TIME-Probably about B. C. 800, six
years after the affair OF Naboth's vine
yard. our last lesson (Assyrian S57) the
SD year of the divided kingdom.
PLACE-Across the Jordan, opposite
Jericho. from whence Elijah was trans-
lated.
Elijah's public life extended over not
more than 20 years. The first IA
we're strenuous and heroic, with crises
like thunderstorms. The Methodist
minister, who was complained Of for
shouting SO loud in his pulpit, replied:
Il am not singing lullabies; / am
blasting rocks" Elijah was blasting
rocks.
But for the last six years since the
vision of God. Elijah had been work
ing more on the plan of "the still small
voice" Once only did his fierce woe
unto you" blaze forth, when King
Ahaziah, Ahab's son, sought aid from
Baal instead of the God of Israel. He
had been training his ~uccesso Elisha
who was full of Elijah's spirit Of re-
ligion, but manifested it in gentler
ways. Moreover, Elijah was the head
of the several schools of the prophets,
where he could train and confirm the
members in their work Of living and
teaching the true religion, thus quiet
ly undermining idolatry.
Elijah went with Elisha, as Paul took
Mark with him on his first missionary
journey. Elisha was Elijah's attend
ant and companion, student and friend.
OF these years it is recorded only that
the young man "ministered" to Elijah,
and poured water on his hands" And
Elijah said unto Elisha, larry here. I
pray thee. Elijah, Elisha, and even
the sons of the prophets, evidently
knew that Elijah's departure was at
hand.
Elijah's last journey was clear
" laid out for him. It's object was
two-fold; a natural desire on the part
of the great leader to revisit the
scenes sc dear to him, and his pur-
pose to fix upon his disciples minds
the principles and precepts he held
most important. Last words are best
remembered, and the sight Of the
sturdy old man still able to make on
foot a journey of more than 80
miles, his kindling glances, his ring
ing voice, must have remained with
them a precious memory, nerving them
to greater boldness in the cause Of Je-
hoyah.
And SO sons of the prophets went,
and stood to view afar off. The abb
rupt heights behind the town command
ed an extensive view of the river, the
nearest bend of which was five miles
away. With a delicate sense of pro-
priety, the young men kept at a dis
lance. but it was fitting they should be
witnesses of the scene, to testify aft
erwards throughout the land to Eli
jah's favor with God and to the real
ity of immortality. For similar rea-
sons the II witnessed the ascension Of
u Lord.
Elijah said: ASK what / shall DO
for thee. before / be taken away from
thee" So God asked Solomon at the
beginning of his reign. This was
Elijah's last opportunity to do any
thing for his friend and successor,
and he wanted to make an expression
to him of his fatherly love.
Elisha's answer was: Let a double
portion of thy spirit be upon me-" The
double portion" was the portion Of
he eldest son according to Jewish
10 JSxhe received a double share of the
;nheriApce. Elisha did not ask to be-
come an elijah, but to succeed him.
He wanted tR1a same spirit of God
bic had made EElijah SO powerful. SO
useful. What hs~ wished was the
virtues of his friend. was seized
with an irresistible desire~8o POSSESS
those glorious characteristics ueso-
ton to duty, courage in danger,~&Vy.
atty to God. This is the longing Or
all noble souls, to catch and retain
something of the spirit of heroes and
saints. 1t was not a request of pride,
or it would not have been granted, but
a request for service; not ambitiously
seeking Elijah's position, but humbly
desiring to be his uccesso and do
his work of guiding Israel back to
God.
Choosing Is a Test of Character
It is not what we get, but what we
choose, moi money or poverty, but the
love of money; not success in gaining
pleasure, but what we seek first, that
tests us as to what we really are.
What we have and what we do often
depend on many things outside of cur
selves. What we choose is the work
Of our hearts and Wills.
There appeared a chariot of fire and
horses Of fire. 1t was a glorious body
guard; but Elijah did not go up in a
chariot, he went up by a whirlwind
into heaven. The marvellous effects
Of electric light through prisms and
fountains, might give us some idea of
the scene. 1t was in this ascent, as
in the ascension Of Christ, that his
physical body was changed into a glo-