“When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
14 He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left, and they seek my life, to destroy it.
15 And the Lord said to him, Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
16 And anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to be prophet in your place.
17 And him who escapes from the sword of Hazael Jehu shall slay, and him who escapes the sword of Jehu Elisha shall slay.
18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.
Dear people of God, a practitioner of righteousness walks a very lonely road especially in today’s world where many Christians want to practise their own brand of Christianity and not according to God’s uncompromisingly righteous standard.
God’s Word tells us that Abraham believed God and it was counted for him as righteousness – Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3.
What does it mean to believe God? It means to trust in, rely on and remain steadfast to God’s commandments in the Holy Bible.
God then counted it for Abraham as righteousness or right standing with God.
Our main text above shows Elijah, God’s prophet lamenting about the fact that the Israelites had forsaken God’s covenant with them, destroyed God’s approved altar, killed God’s prophets, and were seeking him, Elijah to kill because according to Elijah, he was the only practitioner of righteousness by God’s standard left.
Elijah started this statement by reminding God how steadfast he has been to the cause of righteousness but all these calamities have befallen him.
God Almighty and Father of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who in His Omniscience knows the end from the beginning told Elijah what to do and also mentioned to Elijah that there were still 7,000 persons who were still loyal to Him, God Almighty, and who had not engaged in idolatry in worship of Baal.
That must have been consoling news to Elijah because he had felt so lonely and was wishing for death at a time.
Dear friend, there are a number of practitioners of righteousness in today’s world who at times feel lonely when they review and observe the enormity of sin and evil going on even amongst people who profess Christianity and who should be the light of Christ Jesus to a world darkened by sin of humans.
Know today that you are not alone. Know that there are others like you in this world who are still loyal to the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ in keeping His commandments and in being an ambassador of Christ to those who mock and even persecute you for reason of your belonging to Jesus uncompromisingly.
Jesus Christ Whom you follow and whose you are will never abandon you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) because He loves you with an everlasting love.
Don’t give up the work of the Gospel. Keep marching on especially at this time when the devil and his agents are all out to create fear and panic in the world through their evil schemes.
Jesus has already told us that these things must happen as recorded in Matthew 24.
Jesus has also told us that because of lawlessness that would abound in these last days, the love of many people, Christians inclusive, would wax cold and they would give up – Matthew 24:12.
Jesus further says it is only those who endure the evil of this world by not taking part in it but who hold out to the end that would be saved – Matthew 24:13.
So the option of giving up as a practitioner of righteousness is totally out of the question for genuine children of God.
Whenever you feel lonely, turn to God’s Word and pray to Him and be assured that He would console you as He has promised in Matthew 11:28-30.
Always remember that Jesus Christ is coming NOW to take ONLY those who are qualified according to His righteous standards in the Holy Bible.
Are you living a genuine life as His disciple? Are you ready for Him? Come to Jesus today for tomorrow may be too late for you.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Most Righteous Name, Amen.
Gabriel Ama.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click HERE to buy the Book NOW, I UNDERSTAND to study to discover your many rights as a Christian so you can live victoriously in every area of your life always and then go join the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven when you depart this world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------