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No Fiery Chariot, August 11
2 Kings 13:14-20
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow
them.
Revelation 14:13
.
It was not given Elisha to follow his master in a fiery chariot. Upon him the
Lord permitted to come a lingering illness. During the long hours of human
weakness and suffering his faith laid fast hold on the promises of God, and he
beheld ever about him heavenly messengers of comfort and peace. As on the
heights of Dothan he had seen the encircling hosts of heaven, the fiery chariots
of Israel and the horsemen thereof, so now he was conscious of the presence of
sympathizing angels, and he was sustained. Throughout his life he had exercised
strong faith, and as he had advanced in a knowledge of God’s providences and
of His merciful kindness, faith had ripened into an abiding trust in his God, and
when death called him he was ready to rest from his labors....
Elisha could say in all confidence, “God will redeem my soul from the power
of the grave: for he shall receive me.” And with rejoicing he could testify, “I
know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth.” “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,
when I awake, with thy likeness.
Christ claims all those as His who have believed in His name. The vitalizing
power of the Spirit of Christ dwelling in the mortal body binds every believing
soul to Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Jesus are sacred to His heart; for their
life is hid with Christ in God....
What a glorious morning will the resurrection morning be! What a wonderful
scene will open when Christ shall come to be admired of them that believe!
All who were partakers with Christ in His humiliation and sufferings will be
partakers with Him in His glory. By the resurrection of Christ from the dead
every believing saint who falls asleep in Jesus will come forth from his prison
house in triumph. The resurrected saint will proclaim, “O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (
1 Corinthians 15:55
)
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15
Prophets and Kings, 263, 264
.
16
Selected Messages 2:271, 272
.
238