For each member of the bride of Christ there comes that moment when Jesus says… It’s time to go! And for many of us that means leaving the comfort of leaning on a mentor, be it a pastor, teacher, or a brother or sister in Christ and taking responsibility for answering the calling that God has placed on our life and following the leading of the Holy Spirit. That moment comes for everyone of us and I have learned that God never steps back from that moment… even if we do.
2 Kings 2:12-14 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
I have referenced the significance of the Jordan River, Jericho and Bethel on our Walk With God in past writings and I was reflecting on them once again a few weeks ago. The Spirit reminded me of that this morning and prompted me to pass along a couple of thoughts for you to meditate on as you reflect on what desire (His desire) Jesus has placed in your heart. You know, that desire that seems too difficult and out of reach, perhaps impossible, but just won’t go away. Consider that desire in light of the following three places in life where God asks us to begin to trust and lean on Him and not others.
Standing at your Jordan River – This is the moment that Joshua made the decision to stop trusting in others and follow the Lord into the Promised Land; a land that was filled with challenges and yet an overabundance of blessings. This is the point of departure for Elijah and a moment of decision for Elisha. This is the point at which you determing to have “true” fellowship with your bride groom and no one else; where you take full responsibility for you. It was the place where Elisha took full responsibility for his future as Elijah was taken out of his life. He had one decision to make… Recognizing that he must go and cross His Jordan alone by refusing to say he couldn’t go. If you want to know if Jesus is the Jesus you have faith in then go through your Jordan River alone… that moment when it stands before you and that still small voice says Go!
Standing at your Jericho – This is the place where you have seen your Elijah do great things and now it is time for you to step out and do great things for God alone. When you come to that place in your life are you willing to take the initiative and trust in Jesus or are you going to continue to look to others? Joshua did and the walls came down, Elisha did and the Jordan parted. This is the moment, the opportunity Jesus has given you to get the assurance that He is with you, the moment you step out and take the step He is asking you to take and trust in Him.
Standing at your Bethel – This is that place where we all find ourselves at our wits end and we begin to feel the panic. We can choose to stand on Jesus’ wisdom or fall back on our own. This is where Jacob wrestled with God and made his decision to trust in Him and stop trusting in himself. This is where we take a stand and put into practice what we have been taught in the Word of God by our Elijah… when we determine to trust in Jesus and no longer look for man’s assurances… when we strike the water in front of us and step into our role in His Kingdom.
Jordan – Jericho – Bethel… they all represent that place of faith, commitment and obedience where we choose to stop wandering and move out at His direction without looking back. The place where we acknowledge… It’s time to go!