Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-10-07

there are pleasures forever more
Ps. 1911.
This chapter is i'm type the Chris
tians chapter. There are two chief
divisions: 1) Translation Wv. 1-12:
% reception and use of power Wv.
To. The event occurred probably
S99 IL. {. This is II wonderful lesson
Tor youth as 1t emphasizes that inc
way to heaven is the way to the best
of life.
1. Eiisha's Testing, Wv. I-S. since
carmel, Elijah had largely been work.
ing according to the "stili small
voice. He had revived the schools
OF Samuel. but now in some way no.
tice was sent from God that the time
of his departure was at hand How
Elisha learned this fact the record
does not suggest, but he had had a
great object lesson in Elijah's faith
ful, stej-by step obedience to Jehoy-
an word and doubtless was listening
keenly for Elijah's words and for the
voice of Jehovah. This explains
Elisha $ tenacity. Gilgal ". II means
wheel our reproach rolled away.
ana Is picture of our salvation II
Peter 5:7; Ps. 5j:22J. Elijah had
already learned the lesson of being
supplanted by Il younger man and so
ne gracefully allows Elisha to follow
nm. Bethel" the house of God.
was good place TO tarry but not for
Elisha at this time. Now ". 81
hfty son" pupils-of the prophet
seek to diSsuade Elisha. Knowing
something was about to happen, they
stood to view afar OFF," but were not
willing tn lrD nj, ,,
Elisha. They thereby failed to reap a
rich reward (John 10 2:261. Jericho
w. ~ means fragrance. 1t is the
place or temptation II Cor. 1o:13).
rms was II miles farther and con-
tained Il settlement of prophets. Again
EllJah and Elisha passed on, the one
TO glory, the other to the fultness of
the Holy Spirit. At Jericho ". 81
the sons of the prophet evidenced
greater interest than those at Bethel.
out III reply to their challenge Elisha
commanded silence. The last diff
culty to confront them was Jordan
death, but they dS not hesitate. for
Hod had provided even for that con-
tlhgency. Neither are we to hesitate
but willingly 'die unto self" Here
the aged prophet exercised his super
natural power and they went over on
S'o'hu w. OF. This
Journey seems to have been revealed
only stage by stage, yet it was direct
TO the final goal, and at each stage.
though they saw not the end, they
Knew where to go next. This loyalty
or Elisha to Elijah IS a great lesson
Tor us TO follow in our service of
Chrlst-our privilege of loyalty to his
cause and the blessing which will re-
suit thereby. No great victory or
blessing ever comes without much
travail and testing.
III. Eliiah's Translation, Wv. s.Iza.
Even as in the first section we see in
type the plan of salvation SO in this
section we are taught the resultant
1acts and the experiments which come
TO us when the blessing Is received.
Elisha Is now encouraged to "ask."
yet we have'a like promise from n
greater than Elijah which we too Oft
EN- neglect John IA :13, 15:1N. Eli
Jan was such mighty man Of PRAYER
lJames o:17, 1S) that he was on init
mate terms with God and could there
fore make such an offer to Elisha (see
Acts S:15, 10. Notice that the fifty
sons OF the prophets" who 'stood afar
OH were not on the right side of the
river to receive like promise or en-
sense this was Elisha's final test
Again Elijah may not have known the
plan of God that man so unlike him.
SELF was to take the place of leader.
ship. Elijah said, however, eff thou
see me when L am taken from thee"
IL God gives you spiritual vision to
use and to understand, then he will
accept you as my successor. There
must be persistence to the end and
spiritual vision "As they still went
on Elijah went up, not in chariot
but attended by chariots and by a
"whirlwind into heaven" (See also
Ezek. Ia; ii Kings 6:17). Elijah,
the man of tempestuous fire and
sword, who in his hour of weakness
prayed to die, is swept out of sight
amid display of Gods power In and
through nature.
Note the simplicity of the record
ne yerse-as though such power were
q simple and common thing for Je-
hovah.
The translation of Jesus was quite
diherent and properly SO Acts. 1:8;
"And he saw It,"
Elisha's eyes were open and he saw
his departing chief, therefore he be-
came his successor according to the
vromiSe.
AS visible proof of his new ap-
pointment elijah let his well-known
mantle fall, as he ascended, and Hli-
sha took 1t and Is recognized as Hli-
Jah's successor.
What is heaven? Read the last
chapters of Revelation.
Do we live after death? Elijah and
Moses on the Mount of Transfigura-
ton, and the resurrected Christ proved
that death is but the transference to