|
Seeing Beyond The Horizon
Text: I Kings 18:41-46 IBCSWS
January 1, 2006
By Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Looking back to the defining years
we’ve gone through will make us more excited to what the
New Year would offer while preparing ourselves for a
good jumpstart for the year 2006.
Since the downfall of man, clouds of
uncertainties have been hovering over man’s life. Storms
of life come and go and the shadow of death is being
feared continually. Peace and hope become the cry of
men, but these desirable things seem unattainable, and
apparently, they become a part of everyone’s dream in
life.
Smart and intelligent people try to
widen their horizon to search for better things. They
give their best to improve man’s social, political and
economic landscape, but still there are no remarkable
changes because God’s will is not a part of their
vision.
During the years of King Ahab, severe
drought had been experienced by the Israelites because
of their indifferent attitude toward God. The Lord put
them into life-squeezing situations to test their
hearts, but true faith was not found in them except from
a few individuals.
In the midst of terrible famine,
Elijah, the widow of Zarephath and the seven thousand
believers who praised not Baal really enjoyed the
miraculous provision of God. Undoubtedly, they saw good
things beyond the horizon of hopelessness.
Seeing the New Year through our naked
eyes surely ushers us to worry-laden journey. Some
people think that it may be a replay of our previous
years filled with “fears and tough balancing”, but cheer
up because there is a better way of seeing the New Year
2006.
(I) Through The
Eyes Of Faith
I Kings 18:41-46
-We could see better things
beyond what
ordinary men
could see
A careful study on I Kings 18:41-46
makes us realize that what Elijah heard and saw were
imperceptible by man’s senses. In verse 43, it is
written, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward
the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is
nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. (KJV) Verses
41-46 vindicate the saying that goes, “A man of faith is
also a man of prayer.”
The phrase “Go again seven times” was a
mind-stirring command of Elijah to his servant that
conveys a needful message relevant in our times. It
reminds us not to be discouraged by what our naked eyes
can see no matter how hopeless the situation is. It
encourages us to live by faith and warns us not to yield
ourselves to pessimistic mind-set. Go again seven times
means to keep on trusting God especially in times of
wretchedness. Keep in mind that our unwavering faith in
God always brings forth amazing results.
-We could be an encouragement to the
hopeless
Elijah was truly a great encouragement
to King Ahab. During critical times, God uses men of
faith to inspire others so they may be ushered in the
path of faith. In I Kings 18:41-42, it is written, And
Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for
there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up
to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of
Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put
his face between his knees, (KJV) Keep on trusting the
Lord and inspire the world by your soaring faith!
-We could be a blessing
to others
We confidently believe that the
believers’ presence in this chaotic world is a blessing
to all men. In I Kings 18:44-45, it is written, And it
came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold,
there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a
man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare
thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee
not. And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the
heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a
great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (KJV)
What a miraculous working of God in times of dire need.
Elijah’s presence was a blessing to King Ahab and to the
whole Israel. Truly, showers of blessings that come from
above will be enjoyed continually by many people if
believers consistently look unto Jesus through their
eyes of faith.
-We could experience the miraculous
working of God in our
lives
Through faith, we could be assured that
the best of life that God has prepared awaits us. How
encouraging for us to ponder in our hearts that we are
so privileged because we are on the Lord’s side and He
is working in us and through us. In I Kings 18:46, it is
written, And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he
girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance
of Jezreel. (KJV) This passage gives us a glimpse of how
the LORD worked mightily in Elijah’s life.
As we go through another year full of
hope and encouragement, may we be mindful of God and His
power, and the works He wants us to do. God has
entrusted us with extraordinary tasks to accomplish,
foremost of which is the spreading of the Gospel of
Christ. We cannot do anything without God’s help and
that’s simply the reason why we must put our complete
trust in Him.
In Philippians 1:6, it is written,
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day
of Jesus Christ: (KJV) This life-inspiring passage from
the Bible reminds us of the abiding presence of God in
the believer’s life and the believer’s significant part
in God’s wonderful plan.
Knowing that God’s hand is with us, we
should then set godly goals for the glory of God. We
should neither put ourselves in the line of mediocrity,
nor be fearful to face the many challenges of life; but
be courageous and mindful of the precious promises of
God written in the Bible so we can marvellously display
the power of the Holy Ghost through our lives and
glorify the Lord Jesus Christ till He comes.
Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and
see better things beyond the horizon!
A Prosperous New Year To All!
|
THE
POWER OF TRUTH
