0017. Elisha at Jordan
Elisha at Jordan
"And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on" (2Ki_2:6).
1. The Jordan stands, in Christian experience for the death of the self-life. This is the lesson of the twelve stones in the river bed.
How difficult is the journey to the Jordan. We may gladly give up the world and conquer at Jericho, but self dies hard.
Self spelled backward is almost "flesh." Self is the old man, the "I," the "in me" in which there dwells no good thing.
Self delights to beautify itself; it boasts of its piety, is proud of its humility, and rejoices in its own praise.
Self feasts on commendation, fattens on prominence and feels always its own importance.
Our self-life seeketh its own, it cannot bear criticism; it gets a sore case of the blues when complained against; it is greatly concerned in "what the people will think and say about it."
Our self-life wants its own way, makes its own plans, and pleases its own self. It cannot bear to be disputed.
The believer who wants to go with God must go by way of the Jordan. It is there he learns what it means to say: "I am crucified with Christ", and "Not I, but Christ"; and it is there that he learns the meaning of "if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me".
2. The Jordan stands, in Christian experience, for resurrection to a new life. This is seen in that twelve stones were also placed at the river bank, on the Canaan side.
Not only is the old man reckoned dead, crucified, buffeted, denied, made powerless; but the new life is made manifest.
We are "raised * * together with Him". We are lifted up to new ground. We walk in "newness of life".
Blessed hour, when the new life is ours, when we are made to sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
It is not enough to put off the old; we must put on the new. It is not enough to come out of the tomb; we must be loosed indeed from our grave clothes and made to walk in real resurrection power.
"No more need fear, and no more doubting,
No more need pride control my life:
I may be free from condemnation
I can have victory in the strife.
There is a place, praise God, I’ve found it,
There is a place where we may be free;
Free from defeat, with power surrounded;
Yes, there is victory, Lord, in Thee.
I take this life of victory,
Not I but Christ, Himself, in me;
He conquers now, He sets me free;
He gives, I take the victory."
–Paul Rader.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR