Closer Than You Think: Endure To The End

Have you ever heard of the story of the Chariots of Fire? It came to pass that the King of Syria was looking for means by which he might kill the King of Israel. He will lay ambush for the King of Israel but anytime he makes his plan to kill the King of Israel by ambush, the prophet Elisha will send message to the King of Israel about it. The King of Israel will then change his route so that the Syrian King is always failing in his attempts. This happened several times, not once, not twice. One day the King of Syria became angry and called his people to find out from among them who was spying on him and telling the Israelite King about his plan. He was then told by his servants that it was the prophet Elisha that is telling the Israelite King about the plans. The Syrian King then decided to kill Elisha, so he asked the whereabouts of Elisha and when he was told, sent an army of soldiers, horses and chariots to surround the city by night where Elisha and his servant were. Elisha’s servant woke up early to take the lead only to realize the whole city was compassed by the army of the Syrian King. So he asked Elisha, “…Alas, my master! How shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15) that was when Elisha answered him saying these words, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (2 Kings 6:16) To give the young servant courage, “Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17) Behold the army of the Lord of hosts, ready to fight for Elisha.

Brethren, God has always been much closer to us than we usually appreciate. He has always been close to His children. He was in the garden when man was first created. He was there to check on the wellbeing of man and He is here with us also. Close enough that He is able to read that which we write on any piece of paper, see what is in our hearts and thoughts. He is right beside us watching us as we watch the TV, in the kitchen while we cook, in the vehicle while we travel, in front of us while we eat and choke on food, while we sweat in the exam hall. That time when we tripped and fell, when we were involved in that accident, while we were sick, God was right there, beside us watching and strengthening us every step of the way… Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made it this far.

If the Lord will open our eyes like He did the servant of Elisha, to see how much He has done and continues to do in our lives, we probably might then appreciate how closely He truly watches over us.

 Sometimes when all odds are against us, when there is no one or nowhere else to turn to, God makes His presence known. He delivers us just in time.

• When all odds were against the Israelites, the Lord divided the red sea in two, God was there just in time.

• When all odds were against Daniel, the Lord shut the mouth of the Lions. God was right there when he was being thrown into the Lions’ den and was there with him in the den all through.

• When all odds were against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when they were being thrown into the burning furnace, the Lord was there to deliver them. And behold the Lord was there, even in the fire, watching over them.

• Do you remember Hannah? In the quietness of her heart she prayed to God. Though her lips were in motion, she uttered not a word. Yet the good God heard her prayers and answered her. God is much closer to us than we think and appreciate, ready to come to our aid in perilous times. Sometimes, all we need to do is pray because He is really close, listening, watching and strengthening every step of the way.

Sometimes God allows evil to come our way so we might recognize that all the good things we have in this world came from above. Other times, God watches on as we go down the drain to our end, sometimes, a miserable end (in the eyes of man).

What about those times when we have prayed all we can and yet we continue down the drain of suffering and pain? What should we do? Does that mean God has abandoned us? Certainly not brethren, God does not abandon us in those difficult times, rather, He gives us strength the more.

• When Jesus Christ was being spat upon, mocked and scourged, God was watching. When He was being nailed: God watched as the nails were driving through his hands with every single blow of the hammer. God watched all the way but did not intervene. It is not because God didn’t love the Christ, God loved him immensely. But it was so the will of God might be fulfilled. And Christ Jesus, “…who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. For the joy set before us brethren, let us likewise endure also.

• ·God was watching when John the Baptist was being beheaded, but God did not deliver him. 

• The same God that told Paul not to be afraid to go into the city was watching when the mobs beat Paul into unconsciousness. With all these people the Lord was faithful unto them when He said, “I am with you wheresoever thou goeth until the end of the age”. God was with them, watching, loving them until their bitter, yet faithful end.

• God was right there watching when faithful Stephen was being stoned to death: God was watching from above. This time, God opened his eyes like he did the servant of Elisha, and Stephen beheld the Son of God standing at the right hand of God. God allowed Stephen to see the glory set before him and he willingly suffered a painful death, enduring faithfully to the end. God was there watching and strengthening.

All these servants of the Lord went through difficulties, trials, pain and suffering yet the Lord did not deliver them, not because God didn’t love them, not because God had abandoned them. On the contrary, God was right there with them strengthening them to the very end.

You see brethren, sometimes God intervenes and delivers us quickly, but sometimes He allows us to suffer to the bitter end, after which He crowns us with glory. Paul suffered for the cross to the very end yet he encourages young Timothy to do same,

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)

Brethren, what is your difficult? What is your pain? What have you been praying about all these while? Don’t let the difficulties of this life make you assume; Where is God? He is right there with you. Why is this happening to me? Only God has that answer, you can trust him that it is good. Does God love me? Yes, immensely. Is He aware of what you are going through? Yes, He is aware of your pain and suffering every step of the way.

Does He even care? Yes, He does care. Will He ever intercede? Probably not but He is close enough to strengthen you every step of the way through to the very end. If He does intercede, we thank Him in singing praises, if He does not, we keep praying, knowing that He is with us and will be our strength to the very end, amen.

By: Br Valentine Kekeli Dzah

([email protected] / +233 26 848 2093)