Two Stories, One Message No. 2

God Provides Elijah with Food and More

1 Kings 17: 1-11, NIV

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

Continue reading: verses 12-24

Eternal Life Begins now for God's Children

Fifteen years without a gainful work. But God provided for my and immediate family's food, clothes and shelter. I am much more than content.

At the end of this period, God gathered my family in an alien land - Canada, where a new chapter will be written on my life's book.

But of course, the work that I do now - preaching the goodness of God - is an interesting and more productive work than any work I had before.

My work now involves much more than preaching. It entails living what God has shown through his Son, Jesus Christ. It's a challenging work but God through his Spirit provides the daily grace and strength needed for small and great accomplishments.

Eternal life is living God's way, where Christ trail-blazed - a path of righteous living. Death becomes just a temporary rest between the now life and the resurrection life. God through Christ has told us of this powerful message. He's such a good story-teller.

Experiencing it gives me eternal joy and complete gratitude to a great God. Will you join me?

Epilogue

Lastly, this is how the Bible should be read and understood: The Old and New Testaments are two stories but with only one message. What has been will be again. There's nothing new under the sun.

All that men do are vanities until they live what God appointed them to do.