Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from Douglas Jacoby's newest book, Chariots of Fire.
There is much to admire and emulate in the life of Elijah. Most notable is his unwavering commitment and conviction to speak up when things are not right, which is both courageous and heroic. Prophetic passion—I want to have that.
Often I meet people who have conviction. Sometimes it’s about something important, but sometimes it’s about something minor, more like a bee in their bonnet. Here are the cautions I give: Before you speak up and zealously proclaim your view, how do you know you are right? Let’s ground our convictions in the Bible. Is the matter significant enough to bring up? Did no one else notice it? Are you the right person to bring it up? If you are the one to bring it up, is it the right time? Are you bringing it up to the right person or group of people. And of course, are you attempting to rise above the problem you are addressing. In most situations, rarely are we dealing with the kinds of issues Elijah confronted—sins like idolatry, false worship, extortion, and murder. That makes his life all the more admirable.
I encourage you to study further. Review the Elijah passages, 1 Kings 17, 18, 19 and 21 and 2 Kings 1 and 2. Review Malachi 3 and 4, which give great insights into his ministry and into the dire ungodly circumstances that their culture had devolved into. Then notice where the Elijah figure appears in the New Testament, especially Matthew 11 and 17.
Maybe you lead a small group or you are a preacher or an elder, and you need reliable and scholarly material. I get stimulated when I get to read or hear other teachings about the Bible, and it often challenges me to go deeper in my own study. Dig deep into the word and let it move you. Also gather around yourself disciples who are committed to carrying out all of God’s will.
The prophets strove to call people back to the Law of Moses, but with only limited success. The Jews chose to listen to more comforting, less challenging words from the false prophets. That perspective helps us to gain a sense of the flow of history in the Old Testament with its constant alternation between commitment and compromise. Just because we are Christians does not mean we should think we are beyond giving in to similar temptations. The apostles foretold of a day when the Christian community would be overrun by false teachers (e.g. 2 Timothy 4:2–3; 2 Peter 3; Acts 20:29–31). Jesus himself explained that the popular prophets were going to reject the narrow way of his teachings (Matthew 23). Instead they would offer up a more palatable, maybe dazzling way of faith. They would stray from the word of God. We see that happening everywhere today. We see churches being smothered by worldliness, materialism and losing a vision to reach a lost world desperately in need of the gospel.
When it comes to studying the word of God, you have to tune in to what it is telling you, with the world and its noise tuned out, especially when we realize that God speaks in a still, small voice, sometimes with just a whisper. There are many voices in our heads that can drown out the truth of God. As was the case with the ancient Jews, there are consequences when we harden our hearts to God’s word: “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” (Ephesians 4:17–19).
Elijah is worth imitating in many ways. He reminds us that the status quo is not worth preserving, nor is our concern for being politically correct. We need to think biblically about our faith. Elijah teaches us to stand up and be counted. He reminds us that all believers are called to speak out prophetically. And unless we are resisting the Holy Spirit, we can’t help but speak out. He reminds us of what we need and he teaches us what is helpful when we are down in the dumps spiritually. Lastly, Elijah reminds us that the way can be lonely. We find our true niche, our calling, when we connect to others who share the same spirit of faith.
The radical life of a prophet attracts our hearts, though it may scare us. It scares me, but I still admire it. Read through the life of Elijah (and Elisha) and let it move your heart, giving you something to think about that will really make a difference in this dark world.