It has been a while since I sat down and wrote anything longer than a Facebook post. The world seems to be spinning at such a rapid pace, and it seems to be going past in a blur. I’ll admit that I have gotten caught up in following every news event… every twist and turn of every news event… to mental exhaustion.

What a time to be alive, and to have a front row seat to such major historical events. Just when you think you have seen it all, another jaw dropper happens.

But, this roller coaster ride seems to be taking a toll on believers. Christians everywhere are finding themselves deeply discouraged, and full of doomsday ideas about what a Biden presidency will mean to us as a nation. Many have become despondent over just the idea of radical left control in the White House (and in Congress) and they fear a deep plunge into a socialist abyss.

To those who are feeling this, so many of your concerns are completely valid… on every level! Every stinking level. I am not going into a commentary on current events. It’s too stressful, to be honest.

Instead, I am giving you a note, and telling you a true story.

Here is my note to you. Don’t lose heart. And, don’t put your faith in any of the things (or people) in this world. If you haven’t been very spiritually minded, now is the time to begin. God uses times of trial to accomplish His purposes, for His glory. Buckle up. This ride is not over (or is it?) Prepare yourselves for anything that might come your way. Put on the full armor of God. We win in the end, though it is not going to be smooth sailing. God has already spoken… the end is written.

Now, for the story.

We are going to jump into the middle of it with the prophet Elijah, who prayed that fire would come down, and is now, himself, down. This is the same Elijah who slew 450 prophets of Ba’al. He is now running for his life, with a contract out on him. We find him under a broom tree praying that God would take his life.

What happened to the man who has been mightily and miraculously used by God? As with many of us, Elijah has the tendency to become unspeakably disheartened and disillusioned when things don’t go the way he believes they should.

This happened after he WON the contest between the false god Ba’al and the true living God.

Elijah had gone to Ahab and said, “Let’s settle this once and for all. You bring your prophets down, and we will get a sacrifice, build an altar, and douse it with water. You guys can go first. Try to call down fire from your god, to consume the sacrifice.”

So, they called out, screaming all day, and Elijah toyed with them. “Hey, scream louder, maybe he can’t hear you!” This infuriated them. They screamed louder, and he said, “WEIRD. Maybe he is on vacation. Maybe your god is asleep,” which infuriated them even more. Finally, he told them to move over, and he poured and poured more water on the altar.

Elijah called on the true and living God. Not only did the fire consume the sacrifice, it consumed everything – the altar, the dirt, the water… everything. They all fell on their faces, saying truly the Lord God is God. Then, Elijah had the prophets of Ba’al slain.

When Jezebel heard this, she told him that the same thing he did to her prophets would be done to him, by this time tomorrow. She put a hit out on Elijah.

Elijah must have thought, for sure, that God was going to take out Jezebel… and Ahab, too. But, he didn’t. God seemingly does nothing. And, it seems, this is why Elijah ran away and hid.

Why didn’t God deal with the wicked leaders at that time? His ways are higher, better, and greater than ours.

It is interesting that God didn’t speak to Elijah in the way he expected, when He appears before him at the cave. First there is a mighty wind, and we are told that God is not in the wind. Then there is a massive earthquake, and we are told God is not in the earthquake. Then comes this FIRE, and one would think that, surely, God is going to speak to Elijah through the fire, because after all, Elijah seems to be into fire. But, God is not in the fire.

Instead, God chose to speak to him in a quiet whisper. He asks him the same question that he asked him right after he slew the prophets of Ba’al. “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God already knew. He was having a pity party. He was feeling discouraged. DOWN. In his mind, he had done what God expected of him, however, he fully expected God to take care of Ahab and Jezebel. And, He didn’t. Elijah’s problem was not with Ahab and Jezebel, his problem was with God.

Isn’t it true that having expectations of God’s will and how God should display it always ends in disappointment and disillusionment? What are our expectations? What are we expecting God to do?

Stay with me, here, because this is where it gets really interesting.

What Elijah could not know, in his disillusionment and despair, is that GOD WAS ABOUT TO RAPTURE HIM TO HEAVEN WITH A CHARIOT OF FIRE.

He never saw death. BUT, WHEN HE WAS HIDING IN THAT CAVE, YOU COULDN’T HAVE TOLD HIM THAT. Oh, Elijah, if you only knew what GOD WAS ABOUT TO DO!!

So, as Elijah was talking with Elisha, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire. Fire all over the place. It separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. But, we see him again. He is with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, where they appear with and talk to Jesus.

Matthew 17: 1-8 tells us about it –

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

WHEN THEY HAD LIFTED THEIR EYES, THEY SAW NO ONE BUT JESUS ONLY.

Rapture is immanent. It could happen any time. It is my only hope, and your only hope, too. Do you know what the implications of that are? If somebody is not born again of the Spirit of God and does not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are going to be left behind to face unspeakable horror. Those seven years are not going to be pretty. They need Jesus.

I think it is safe to say that, in hindsight, Elijah might tell us something like this:

“I know you want to Make America Great Again. I wanted to make Israel great again. But, God had a different plan. God had a different way… much higher. I know that you want the tabernacle here. But, is not here… IT IS UP THERE!”

Many Elijahs are unnecessarily disillusioned in wanting to turn things around here on earth, but God wants to turn the Elijahs around. Perilous times are already here. It is going to get worse. This is a good thing, and a God thing. Maybe that is what it is going to take for Christians to finally say, “I have had it with this world,” and actually look forward to leaving.

“Yeah, but, AHAB, JEZEBEL, TRUMP, BIDEN, HILLARY!”

God will handle the justice part. Pray for them. See Jesus only. He is going to rapture us like he did with Elijah. Share the gospel.

~Bettie

Reference texts – I Kings 18 and 19, 2 Kings 2:11, Matthew 17: 1-8