Rev. David Holwick T The Life of Elijah, #7
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
June 17, 2007
2 Kings 2:7-15
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I. He must be nuts.
Brian Walker of Bend, Oregon, has plans to be the first private
citizen to go to space in a home-built rocket.
He knows a little bit about rockets because he is a toy designer
and came up with the Air Bazooka and Pop-It Rockets.
These toys made him a pile of money.
That's a good thing, because he has spent $1 million on his latest
passion.
He doesn't plan on going to the moon, or even into orbit.
His plans are much more modest.
Walker's original plan was to use a hydrogen peroxide rocket that
would launch him 30 miles up.
That's about halfway to what scientists call "space."
It's sort of like the flight that Alan Shepard went on, Mercury 1.
There are some differences, though.
Shepard was greeted by a Marine helicopter and an aircraft carrier.
Walker will be greeted by a flatbed truck and 12 Hooters girls.
But due to technical difficulties and a failed marriage, Walker
never got off the ground.
His next goal was to go up only 2 miles, then bail out and skydive.
His newest dream is to put a jet-powered craft into the world's
biggest crossbow and shoot himself 20 miles up.
Walker gives a lot of interviews in his rocket hanger.
Most of the interviews have been interrupted by a cuckoo clock on
the wall saying, "Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!"
A reporter advised him to lose the clock.
#15696
A. Probably every young American has had dreams like this.
1) A recent movie was made about it.
2) But I doubt any of us have a chance of making it come true.
a) We don't have the money or the expertise.
B. God can make it come true.
1) Every true Christian will one day take a trip that will go
beyond the atmosphere, even beyond outer space.
2) It will happen in the twinkling of an eye.
3) It is called the Rapture, and the prophet Elijah give a
hint as to what it will be like.
II. A dramatic exit.
A. First, Elijah said his goodbyes.
1) He took a zigzag path that touched base with his disciples.
2) Elisha accompanied him, and his doggedness shows his
commitment and worthiness.
B. Up and away.
1) Fiery chariot appears.
2) Whirlwind takes him up.
C. Theories on what happened.
1) Myth?
a) Like other events in Elijah's life, it is miraculous
but unbelievable.
b) People don't disappear like this.
c) Many other cultures have disappearing heroes.
2) Ancient UFO experience?
a) Erich von Daniken and "Chariots Of The Gods" book, 1968.
It is centered on the theory that the technology and
religion of most ancient civilizations was given
to them by space travelers.
These aliens were then worshipped as gods.
Episodes like Elijah's riding to heaven on a fiery
chariot is really a literal description of an alien
abduction.
Ezekiel's vision of a wheel-within-a-wheel is also
an alien spaceship.
b) But many of his facts are wrong or fanciful.
3) Example of rapture.
a) Translated into heaven without ever dying.
b) Enoch in Genesis is only other example in the Bible.
c) However, a whole generation of Christians will
experience it.
III. The Rapture is coming.
A. What it is.
1) The word "rapture" is not found in the Bible.
2) It refers to a special resurrection -- of living people
as well as dead believers.
B. Who is involved.
1) Genuine Christians only.
2) Some limit it to "good" Christians, and say that
worldly Christians will miss out on it.
C. When it will happen.
1) All agree it happens at the Second Coming.
a) Some put it at the very end, just prior to the battle
of Armageddon. (post-Trib)
b) Most put it as the first event of that period. (pre-Trib)
2) Will it be our generation? Only God knows. (Jesus doesn't)
D. Where it is taught.
1) By Jesus, in Matthew 24, where he says angels will gather
his elect (=believers) from the earth. 24:31
2) By the Apostle Paul, in 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4:13-17.
a) It involves an instant transformation.
b) The emphasis is on being united with Jesus forever.
IV. The danger of escapism.
A. Heavenly-minded, but no earthly good?
1) Some Christians emphasize little else but prophecy and
the Rapture. (note the popularity of the Left Behind
series)
2) They ignore real human needs in the world, because they
are going to disappear.
3) Rapture is not meant to be a quick "out" but a sign of
God's future transformation of the whole earth.
B. Elijah was raptured only after he completed his ministry.
1) While there is work to do, we should do it.
2) What accomplishments can YOU show for your Christian life?
C. God's promises should give us encouragement.
1) Have a supernatural orientation.
a) God can do anything!
2) Rather than escapism, it should inspire us toward
engagement.
3) Don't waste time setting dates for the Rapture, but
"speed that day of his coming."
a) Missions.
b) Evangelism.
D. There is still work to do.
1) Elijah passed his torch to Elisha.
a) Elisha asked for a double-portion. 2:9
1> Not twice as much, but the firstborn's inheritance.
b) He found that Elijah's God still made his power available.
2) The torch has also been passed on to us.
V. Your time is limited.
A. Elijah knew it was his final day on earth.
1) This kind of knowledge can be disconcerting.
2) How would you spend it?
A reporter for the Palo Alto Weekly named Karen Jordan
walked along University Avenue and asked a most profound
question of those who were passing by:
"If today were your last day on earth, how would you spend it?"
She reported the following answers:
Tony said, "I would get drunk as heck, do as much dope as I
can, and be with two pretty women. That's my dream."
Chris responded, "I would spend it in the desert or a very
peaceful place.
I would just try to enjoy every moment and get connected to
God and nature."
Vera, an older woman, said, "I would phone my family and visit
my friends."
Lou Ann said, "I would ride around in my new, old convertible.
I just bought a 1968 250 SL."
And finally Jacqueline said, "I would spend my last day with
Gene."
#34692
B. The Bible says time is shorter than we think.
1) Make the most of your opportunities.
2) Do something that will last.
3) Do something that honors God.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#15696 "He Can Only Go So High," Seattle Times, quoted by Randy
Cassingham, This Is True (newsletter), July 15, 2000.
#34692 "Wedontdothat," by Günter Grass, edited by David Holwick, The New
Yorker Magazine, June 4, 2007.
These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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