The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-11
In the Religious World

QoTnSSS IOr EllJan. LOT ne IlliilSOAA
bulked too large in the landscape
An object Lesson for Elijah.
There is implied rebuke in the sim
pie fact that the prophet, who nao
himself been given an object lesson
of Gods greatness, had himself 70 pc
taught an object lesson. For EllJa n
had no sooner settled comfortably IN
his cave than the voice of Jehovain1
came to him, saying, lovingly, as I
were. well, how about it, EIiJan
What now?''
Whereupon the unconscious egotisln
of strong man engrossed in himselI
and in his work burst forth, I nave
been very jealous for the Lord Goa
of hosts: for the children OF 1sredi
have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown
down Thine affairs, and slain my
prophets with the sword; and L, even
only, am left; and they seek my hIe'
to take it away
That sounds familiar. 1t seems 10
me 7 have often heard that priggish,
pharisaical, 81, even l only, am leIl,
a good many times. There are whole
groups of US Christians who nave SO
little sense of proport1on-or OF hu,
mor-that we think the Lord would
be in a sorry way if it were not LOT
u.s. We are sure the church as Wen
as the times are decadent ana tnal
we few are the saving remnant. w men
means that we are not posted our
ego has got in front or our eyeslsht'
hindering our vision.
Bidding the self-centered prophet
stand on the mount, God gave MN an
familiar figure of speech. In sue
cession there passed by mlgnty
wind, an earthquake and a IRE, out
the Lord was not in any or them. l men
came the still, small voice, ana 10,
that was the voice of God. NOW, as
then and ever, the mightiest lnflu.
ences are the quietest-and growth OF
the vegetable kingdom, the shining OF
the sun, the rise of the tides, the de-
veIopment of the human will and
forming, all unsupported, in indlVlduai
human hearts which may eVehtualiy
mean more to the world than TINS
great war itself. The voice of COO IN
fbe shirt of man is unheard by the
nearest person, but it is the greatest
force in the universe.
The knight Grants Blunder.
PICTURESQUE beyond most figures Is
that of the knight Grant, riding alone
to champion whatever wrongs ne may
encounter. Elijah was SORT Oh
alone. A wilderness type, he felt no
need of people. Now, in Mount Ho-
reb, he was given his lesson. Gods
knight Grant His plan is for all His
helpers to be workers together" Co
operation and coordination are the
laws which he has written deep IN ma
ture. NO man llVeln 10 IlIllSSlI, anu
no man worketh to himself. Elijah
had committed more than one blum
der by his bent for solitariness. 1t not
only led him into a needless mood of
but it had also deprived
him of the fellowship and stimulus
of seven thousand others who had not
bowed the knee to Baal, and who
were as loyal as he to Jehovah. Also
it had deprived this seven thousand
faithful ones of his leadership.
So the startling practical message
that came to Elijah from the Mount
was to this effect, go back among
men and organize your work. Do your
job thoroughly. but it is among people
that your work must be done. Learn
to be a co-operator. At this very
moment, there are two kings to be
anointed and an apprentice prophet to
be chosen, in order that my work may
be carried out. And don't forget. my
Elijah, that you are not
the only righteous man in the land.
There are seven thousand true hearts
in Israel. Go, work with and for
them; and quit your incoming off here
in the desert"
Thus it came to pass that Elijah
had his lesson; and went back among
the people to do his work. There he
chose Elisha, a different type of man
to continue the work which
he had begun.