Second Kings 2:14
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
From Paul to Timothy
I am past 60 and don’t know exactly how long I will be here, so I am trying to mentor the next generation of men and women to carry on with proclaiming the Gospel for the day in which I am no longer here. I have no clue when that will be; only God does (John14:5; Psalm 39:4). Therefore, I must prepare the next generation to carry on the Gospel message for the day I’m gone. Paul mentored Timothy (1 Tim., 2 Tim.), and I believe every Timothy needs a Paul to mentor him or her to carry on for the day they are gone. When I began my writing career many years ago, the very first book I wrote was on apologetics because I taught Sunday school to youth for over 20 years. Time after time, when the children left home, they would leave the church. It grieved me to see these young people turn their back on their faith and on God. Are you presently leading someone to carry on the Gospel message? Is it your children, your grandchildren, someone in your Sunday school class, or just someone you know?
From Elijah to Elisha
When Elijah knew he was about to leave his earthly ministry, he sought out and mentored Elisha because he knew that someone would need to carry on his ministry after he was gone. Elisha willingly left all he had to follow and be mentored by Elijah. Elijah trained him well for what Bible scholars believe was 12 years in all. This gave Elisha adequate time to be trained by his mentor to carry on the message of God. Elisha’s name means “God is salvation,” while Elijah’s means “my God is Jehovah.” Elijah’s view of God shaped Elisha’s. He knew that there must be someone to carry on this message and ministry. Elisha showed his willingness to forsake all as he left his plowing in the field, used the wooden yoke to cook the slaughtered oxen, and simply became Elijah’s servant (1 Kings 19:21). When Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, it was like a runner passing on the baton in a relay race. From that point forward, Elisha would carry on where Elijah left off (1 Kings 19:24).
From You to Whom?
You may not have 12 years to mentor someone to carry on the Gospel. It could be longer, or it could be shorter. The point is, from you to whom? Who will carry on when you are gone? If you are a younger person, seek out an Elijah today for someone to mentor you because someday you may be needed to mentor the next generation to carry on the Gospel message. Who will that be? Have you even thought about it? Are you even mentoring someone right now? If you’re a younger person, is there someone mentoring you? If so, who is it? If not, why not? I still have a mentor, and I don’t believe you will ever outgrow the need for one. For me, he is an elderly man, a retired pastor for whom I have much respect. He has a lot more experience than I do. He is quick to correct me, and I thank him for that. I talk to him frequently just to unload my ministry issues, and he gives me experienced, wise counsel that you can’t learn from of a textbook, once again proving the fact that every Paul needs a Timothy, but every Timothy needs a Paul.
A Closing Prayer
Father God, thank You for sending me my mentor and for allowing me to be a mentor to one younger man in particular. I pray for him that he will be faithful in carrying on the Gospel when they are carrying me to the grave, and in Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen
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