I started a series before Christmas entitled: “When Life Doesn't Make Sense”, and I want to complete it today. It's about the life of Elijah who followed the directions of the Lord and took a stand for God but in the end on

 

many occasions life was hard and difficult.

We just came through the Christmas season and one of the movies that I watch every year is: “It’s a Wonderful Life” which portrays a similar kind of character - George Bailey played by Jimmy Stewart back in 1946. He wants to do the right thing; he stays in Bedford Falls to run his father's “Building and Loan” business but suddenly life takes a tragic turn. Uncle Billy misplaces the money and now he's accused of fraud.

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He's on a bridge - despondent, in despair and he's thinking of killing himself by jumping into the freezing river. Elijah is in that state - he is despondent and depressed and he wants his life to end now. Elijah may have made some assumptions along the way, leading to expectations that were unfulfilled … and that probably led to disappointment, even disappointment with God.

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Perhaps there was something in Elijah's mind that believed that because God answered by fire on Mount Carmel and God opened the heavens and sent rain - that things might be different - but now Queen Jezebel is threatening to kill him.

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1 Kings 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!”

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There's an old melancholy song by James Taylor that could have been sung by Elijah; “I’ve Seen Fire and I've Seen Rain” … but I always thought I would see you again Lord; but where are you? And God does speak to Elijah again - but He's not speaking through a great manifestation (wind, earthquake or fire), but now He speaks through a still small voice - He's as close as the mention of His Name.

 

Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “It’s a Wonderful Life? ”

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Blessings,

 

Kevin