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The story of Ahaziah's death was
very sad; now we are to read another story quite different; the end of a
good and holy man; the beautiful story about Elijah going to Heaven. Elijah
had served God many long years; he had suffered much, and God had made him
very useful to His people Israel. And now Elijah's life was almost
ended; God would soon call him to Heaven. But Elijah did not die as
other good people do; God promised that he should go to Heaven without
dying. Did God even take His people to Heaven so before? Yes;
Enoch did not die. "He was not, for God took him."
It was a great honor and blessing to Enoch and Elijah not to suffer
death. Death is a very painful, and a very fearful thing; it is the
punishment of sin; but if our sins have been washed away in the blood of
Jesus, then the sting of death is gone, and we need not be afraid to die. Elijah
knew that the time was near when he should be taken to Heaven; and he and
his servant Elisha went from Gilgal. Elijah was going to see some of
his dear friends for the last time, and to bid them farewell. When
they had gone a little way, Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here now,
for the Lord has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha answered,
"No, I will not leave thee;" so they both came to Bethel.
Did they talk as they walked along? Yes; Elijah told his faithful
servant, that he was going away from him soon; he was going to Heaven; but
Elisha must stay on earth a little longer. This made Elisha love his
dear master still more; for he thought, "I shall not have him with me
long; he will soon go away from me. I will not leave him now.
I must stay with him, and hear all his last words." There
was a school at Bethel for the sons of the prophets; and when the young
prophets saw Elijah and Elisha coming, they ran to them, and said to
Elisha, "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master
to-day?" Elisha did not wish them to speak about it; so he said
softly, "Yes, I know it;" and walked on with Elijah. Then
Elijah said, "Stay here, for God has sent me to Jericho."
But Elisha answered, "No, I cannot leave thee;" and they both
went on to Jericho. There was another school at Jericho; and the
sons of the prophets came, and said to Elisha, "Knowest thou that the
Lord will take away thy master to-day?" Elisha said, "Yes,
I know it; hold your peace." Then Elijah told Elisha, that God
had sent him to Jordan; but Elisha still kept close to his dear master,
and said, "I cannot, I will not leave thee;" so they came
together to Jordan. Elijah took off his mantle, and smote the waters
with it; and the waters divided, and Elijah and Elisha went over on dry
ground. Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask now, what shall I give
thee; what shall I do for thee before I go away?" Elijah had
not any worldly possessions to give; and Elisha did not want them; for he
knew they could not make him happy. But Elisha wanted to be like his
master; he wanted to be a holy prophet of the Lord; so he said, "Let
a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." It was God's Spirit
that made Elijah so holy, and that taught him to prophesy, and to do the
wonderful things we have been reading about. Could Elijah give the
Holy Spirit to Elisha? No; for that is the gift of God alone; but
Elijah could ask God to give His Spirit to Elisha. Elijah said,
"Thou hast asked a hard thing: but if thou see me taken up,
thou shalt have thy wish; but if not, thou shalt not have it."
Elisha asked for a good gift; may we ask for it too? Yes; God
promises to give His Holy Spirit to all who ask Him. Not the
wonderful spirit of prophecy which He gave to Elijah; God does not now
give that to His people; but the Spirit to cleanse and renew our hearts,
and to make us pure and holy. Elijah
and Elisha still went on, and talked one to the other, for they had much
to say. Elijah was giving his last advice, and Elisha was very
attentive to all his words, for he knew that he should never hear his
master speak again. But while they were talking, a bright chariot of
fire appeared, and horses of fire. They came from Heaven to carry up
Elijah safely there. Elijah was parted from Elisha in a
moment. Elisha looked up, and he saw his dear master in the bright
chariot, going to Heaven in joy and triumph, and he cried, "O, my
father, my father!" But very soon Elisha could see his master
no more. He was gone far away, above the clouds, and the blue sky,
to a world which Elisha's eye could not see. Then Elisha felt very
sad; and he took his garments, and rent them in pieces. He was alone
now, without Elijah to teach and comfort him; but when he remembered his
master's happiness, he was comforted; and he thought, "When I die, I
shall see him again." All
Elijah's troubles were ended now. He had no more wicked, cruel
enemies to hurt him. He would never be sorry again, as he was in the
wilderness of Beersheba. God's people are glad to go away from this
world, because it is a world of sin; and they are glad to go to Heaven,
because that is a world of holiness; a world where God is; and where they
will see Him face to face. They are not taken up to Heaven in
chariots of fire; that was an honor God gave to Elijah alone. Holy
people must now die before they can go to Heaven, and perhaps they may die
in great pain and suffering; but God is with them to comfort them; and
soon all their sufferings end, and then He sends His holy angels to carry
their happy souls to Heaven.
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