Introduction:
A. You all know what a “grand finale” is, right?
1. The grand finale is the very exciting or impressive ending of a performance or a show.
2. Well, I guess someone in rural Arkansas didn’t know the meaning of the phrase.
3. Some of our relatives attended a 4th of July fireworks display in Daisy, Arkansas - population 118.
4. A few minutes into the fireworks display, a voice came over a loud speaker, saying: “And now for the grand finale!”
5. Our family looked at each other surprised and thought, “Wow, that was a short show!”
6. But then the fireworks went on and on and a half an hour later there was the traditional “grand finale with lots of fireworks going off at once.
7. Obviously, the announcer didn’t know what the “Grand Finale” meant.
8. So it is now a fun inside joke in our family, we like to announce, “and now for the grand finale”
B. Today’s sermon is the grand finale in the story of the life of Elijah and in our sermon series on Elijah.
1. Because I know the real meaning of grand finale, you should not come next week looking for yet another sermon in the continuing saga of Elijah.
2. The story comes to a close today.
3. But let me tell you it is no boring ending.
4. Elijah exits the stage with a flash and a gust of wind!
5. His story has a true grand finale – a very exciting and impressive ending – the most exciting ending of any biblical character with the exception of Jesus.
C. So, with no further ado let’s begin the grand finale!
I. The Story
A. What a journey Elijah has been on and we right along with him.
1. His journey began with his training at Cherith.
a. He was further shaped and refined at Zarephath.
b. He was used magnificently on Mount Carmel.
2. We have seen him stand alone before wicked kings and a wicked queen.
3. Finally toward the end, Elijah was given the companionship of a friend, Elisha, his trainee.
4. During our study, we have seen Elijah at his best and at his worst.
a. We have seen him victorious, riding high in God’s triumph.
b. And we have seen him defeated, walking low in despair.
c. He emerged out of nowhere as God’s man of the hour to stand alone in the gap.
d. He has been heroic almost beyond belief, yet humble of heart.
5. We have seen Elijah reach the pinnacle of life’s experiences, but today’s ending is going to top them all.
6. Today we are going to witness Elijah as he dodges death and leaves the earth in a blaze of glory.
B. Skipping death puts Elijah in a very rare category of “deathless departures.”
1. As far as we know, only two people have exited earth without passing through the jaws of death.
2. Enoch was the first person. His story is told in Genesis 5:21-24.
3. Elijah was the second person.
4. The last to experience this kind of departure with be those believers who are alive on earth when Christ returns – we are told about this in 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54.
C. The remarkable part of Elijah’s story is that he knew he was going to be taken up to heaven without dying.
1. Because of this, he leaves us a fitting example of how we should be living in anticipation of Christ’s return.
2. Although we are not told when or how God told Elijah about his deathless departure, it is obvious from the context that God gave Elijah information about his departure ahead of time.
3. As we will see, God also made it known to “the sons of the prophets,” as well as to Elisha.
D. The Bible says: When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. (2 Kgs. 2:1)
1. So we have come to Elijah’s last day on earth and he was about to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
2. The Hebrew here can also be translated, “in a gust, in a windy moment.”
3. So in some kind of sweeping movement, Elijah would be caught up, and in that instant he would be gone from this earth into God’s presence in heaven.
4. Because God has told Elijah when this would happen, how this would happen and where this would happen, we see Elijah moving quickly toward the Jordan.
E. As we read the narrative, try to imagine the scene as it unfolds.
1. The Bible says: Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. (2 Kgs. 2:2-6)
2. I am confident that God had told Elijah that the Jordon would be the place of his departure.
3. But if that was the case, then why did Elijah wander the countryside, going to Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho? Why not go straight to the Jordan?
a. An obvious answer is because God told him to first go to those places.
b. But why go to those places first?
4. Historians tell us that the schools of the prophets were located at Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho.
a. So perhaps God wanted his humble and faithful prophet to make this farewell tour to meet one last time with these young prophets in training.
b. What a lasting impression these visits would leave for those who would carry the torch after Elijah’s departure.
5. What do you make of the fact that Elijah tried to separate himself from Elisha each step of the way?
a. Perhaps he wasn’t so much trying to get rid of Elisha as he was putting his successor-in-training to the test.
b. Elijah was saying to Elisha, “You may not want to go with me to Gilgal or Bethel or Jericho, and certainly not to the Jordon.”
c. But Elisha was relentless – He would not leave the old prophet’s side!
d. We certainly need a few Elisha’s in our lives, don’t we?
e. As intimate friends, they bring us strength and infuse us with hope.
6. I find it interesting that at both Bethel and Jericho, the sons of the prophets asked Elisha the same question: “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
a. Both times Elisha gave the same answer: “Yes, I know. Now be quiet.”
7. Elisha confirmed that this was Elijah’s last day, but why be quiet about it?
a. Perhaps Elisha didn’t want the young prophets to disturb Elijah with their questions about this amazing information.
b. Perhaps Elisha knew that Elijah was lost in a unique time of reflection and needed peace and quiet.
8. How many times have you heard it said that when a person dies, his whole life passes in review before him?
a. Perhaps that is the kind of journey that Elijah was going through as he knew that his departure time and place was nearing.
F. When the two men stopped at the Jordan, the progression of the story suddenly changed.
1. Let’s read the story slowly, and again allow our minds to run free as we imagine this unusual dialogue and this miraculous event.
2. The Bible says: Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.” (2 Kgs. 2:7-10)
3. This miracle is reminiscent of several that have occurred in the history of God’s people.
a. God miraculously parted the Red Sea so that Moses and the children of Israel walked across on dry ground.
b. Then when it was time for Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the promised land, they came to the Jordon river and it was at flood stage, but God opened up the waters and the whole nation crossed the Jordon River on dry ground.
c. So while the 50 men stood at a distance they watched Elijah strike the Jordan with his cloak and the waters parted for he and Elisha to cross on dry ground.
4. When Elijah and Elisha reached the other side, Elijah turned to his friend and said, “What can I do for you before I depart?”
a. Notice Elisha’s immediate request – this is a man who thinks big and isn’t afraid to ask for big things.
b. Basically, Elisha said: “Elijah, you’ve done some great miracles in your life, but I would like to have a double dose of your spirit so I might know twice the power.”
c. We need not be afraid to ask for big things from God, after all, God has told us to ask and we shall receive!
d. Elijah replied, “That’s a big request, but if you see me when I am taken, it will be yours.”
5. If Elisha had been tenacious in sticking close to Elijah earlier, you can only imagine his vigilance at that point.
a. But Elisha didn’t have to wait and watch very long – the moment came without delay.
G. The Bible says: As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (2 Kgs 2:11)
1. What a fantastic moment this must have been!
2. Two intimate friends, both men of God, were walking along together and were talking, when suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared.
3. I can imagine Elijah saying, “Well, looks like my ride has arrived.”
4. And just like that – instantly he was gone “up to heaven in a whirlwind.”
5. Elisha saw it all and cried out in amazement and awe.
6. His heart must have been pounding in his chest and his eyes must have been as big as saucers.
7. He had never seen anything like this. Matter of fact – no one had ever seen anything like this.
H. The Bible says: 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. (2 Kgs. 2:12-15)
1. Elijah the prophet of power was gone, but Elisha the prophet of double power was here and was ready to be used greatly by his God.
II. The Application
A. There are three lessons that I want us to consider from today’s story.
B. First of all, we learn that for God’s faithful servants, the end of earthly life is not to be feared.
1. Elijah faced the end of his earthly life without fear or fretting of any kind.
2. One of the beautiful things we see over and over again in Scripture is the way that God’s people embrace the end of earthly life with dignity and peace.
3. When faced with imprisonment and execution, the apostle Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
4. When the Christian passes from this life, nothing of lasting value is lost, and everything of lasting value is gained.
5. Those of us who know God and have served Him faithfully, should long to be with God in our heavenly home.
6. Let’s again consider the example of Paul. As the end of his life approached, we wrote the familiar words of 2 Timothy 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
7. What a joy and comfort it is to know that there is great reward awaiting God’s servants when the time for their departure arrives.
8. Elijah knew what awaited him and he was happy to board the heavenly chariot when it arrived.
9. We can have that same kind of peace and anticipation as the end of our earthly life approaches.
C. Second, from today’s story we learn that we should serve the Lord until the very end.
1. If you knew that today was your last day on earth, what would you do?
2. If you are faithfully serving the Lord, then that is what you would continue to do on that day.
3. Here we see Elijah doing just that on his last day of life on earth – he made the rounds to all the schools of the prophets to give them some kind of encouragement.
4. I am inspired by the story of a lady named Myrtie Howell, because she learned how to serve God until the very end.
a. She grew up poor and had a hard life.
b. She quit school at age 10 and went to work in a steel mill for 10 cents a day.
c. She married at age 17, but her husband died in an accident and she had to go back to work to support herself and her 3 children.
d. Years later, her declining health forced her to move into an old, high-rise nursing home.
e. She became depressed and prayed, “Lord, what more can I do for you? I’ve lost everything that ever meant something to me. And now I’m stuck in this dark, dreary room. I have nothing left to live for! Take me home!” (She sounds like Elijah at one point in his life)
f. But then God put this thought in her mind, “I’m not through with you yet, Myrtie. I want you to write to prisoners.”
g. So she wrote a letter and sent it to the Atlanta Penitentiary. Her letter said: “Dear Inmate. I am a grandmother who loves and cares for you. I am willing to be a friend. If you’d like to hear from me, write me. I will answer every letter you write. A Christian friend, Grandmother Howell.”
h. The letter was given to the prison chaplain and he sent her the names of 8 prisoners she could write to.
i. Soon, she was corresponding with up to 40 inmates a day. She became a one-woman ministry reaching into prisons all over America.
j. She said, “I thought my life was over. But these past few years have been the most fulfilling years of my life! I thank Prison Fellowship! And most of all, I thank Jesus!”
5. Myrtie Howell ran the race and finished it well, just like Elijah.
6. I have been inspired by some of our own members who have done the same, like: Charlie Vrooman, Glenn Olbricht, Mike Lydon, Linda Brennan, Lisa Brown and Jean Scorzelli, just to name a few of the most recent ones.
7. They were all faithfully serving the Lord and testifying to God’s goodness when they moved on to their heavenly reward.
8. We need to serve the Lord to the very end.
D. One final lesson I want us to consider is that the work of God continues after we pass on.
1. When a man or woman of God dies, nothing of God dies.
2. Sometimes we get so caught up in the lives of certain amazing individuals that we begin to think that we cannot do without them.
3. What we must remember is that when even a mighty servant is gone, God has 7000 who have never bowed the knee to Baal.
4. God always has His next servants waiting in the wings.
5. Think about it – Down through the ages God has had His men and women in every era to carry on His work.
a. God has never been frustrated wondering, “What will My people do now that he or she is gone?!”
6. Exit Elijah. Enter Elisha.
a. Elisha may have been momentarily surprised and stunned when Elijah departed, but that didn’t last long.
b. Remembering Elijah’s words, Elisha reached down and picked up the old prophet’s cloak.
c. Claiming the power that now was his, he miraculously crossed back over the Jordan and began his own prophetic ministry.
d. God’s work never missed a beat.
7. Certainly we miss those great servants who have gone before us and left us, but the mantle of their memory spurs us on to greater heights and deeper devotion.
8. And of course, the good news is that we will see them all again someday!
9. Someday, together, we will worship the same Lord face to face and we will be with the Lord forever. May we be encouraged by that fact.
E. None of us know when our grand finale is coming, but it is coming and we must be ready.
1. We must not fear our grand finale.
2. We must serve right up to our grand finale.
3. We must rejoice that God’s work will continue without us.
F. I hope you have enjoyed our study of the life of Elijah.
1. May his life inspire us to stand up for the Lord and to stand alone if necessary.
Resources:
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility, by Charles Swindoll, Thomas Nelson, 2000.
Running the Race, Finishing the Course, Sermon by Pat Cook, SermonCentral.com
