In March 2015, a woman in Spain posted some pictures on Facebook of a boy she’d cared for as a foster parent. She’d met the boy nearly 30 years earlier while volunteering at a juvenile daycare. The child had been abandoned, and the woman ended up caring for him until he was 6. Not able to adopt the child, the two were separated. But years later, after 3 days and 50,000 views of her Facebook post, they were reunited.
It’s likely Elisha also looked forward to the time he would be reunited with Elijah—his mentor and friend. For when it was time for Elijah to be taken up to heaven to be with God (2 Kings 2:1), Elisha created a fuss. He simply didn’t want Elijah to leave. Three times, the older prophet told Elisha to stay as he prepared to move on, but each time Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” (2 Kings 2:2,4,6).
Other prophets reminded the younger prophet that Elijah would soon be gone, to which Elisha responded in denial, “Be quiet about it” (2 Kings 2:3,5). And when God sent a supernatural ride to whisk Elijah off to his heavenly home, Elisha cried out, “My father! My father!” (2 Kings 2:12).
When those we love pass from this life, we grieve and desire to be reunited with them. The good news? Scripture reveals that we will one day be united with God and reunited with fellow believers (Genesis 5:24; 2 Samuel 12:23; Luke 22:17-18). Jesus even said that believers across the ages will sit down and dine with “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 8:11). I’m sure Elijah and Elisha will be there too—maybe seated side by side!
Though it’s heartbreaking to say goodbye, because of Jesus we can look forward to one day being reunited with those who love Him.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 21:25-38
More:
Read Deuteronomy 21:17 and consider what the oldest son was to receive according to Old Testament law. With that in mind, why do you think Elisha asked Elijah for a double share of his spirit? (see 2 Kings 2:9).
Next:
Who are you looking forward to being reunited with one day? How has God provided hope for those difficult times when we must say goodbye to those we love?
Gary Shultz on September 8, 2016 at 6:26 am
Tom, long words I do not have for this post. Even though I am in my sixties I have not lost many close to me. I have been spared much grief. One thing is for sure it will be a great pleasure to see each one I have come to know here at ODJ. It will be a great joy as we enjoy the presence of our Lord and each other. Thanks Tom WBP
Tom Felten on September 8, 2016 at 7:35 am
So true, Gary. Looking forward to seeing you then!
gagirllive on September 8, 2016 at 8:50 am
Moving story, Tom. I can imagine the wonderful reunion those two must have had after all those years. Also, in light of your recent loss, I’m thankful that you have this hopeful perspective to share with us today as you walk through your own grief. Death is separation, but praise God, for those who die in Christ, it is only temporary. One big glorious family reunion awaits us, doesn’t it? There are some relatives that I’m not too keen on seeing at my earthly family reunions, but I’m quite certain that won’t be the case up yonder. 🙂 Something I got from reading the passage was that no matter how strongly we love and closely we walk with someone in this life, we can’t take the final journey with them. Like Elisha, we are left “holding their cloak” and embracing the legacy of faith they left behind. For those in my life who have passed on to glory, I am grateful. I am grateful to have witnessed their courage and faith in life and in the face of getting ready to cross their Jordan. It’s never ceased to amaze me to see the dying grace God gives to His children when their time comes. There is no fear in perfect Love as they step across the threshold into eternity. What a welcome they must receive! It makes me look forward to the reunion even more. I’m not trying to get there anytime soon, but the anticipation is building. 🙂 Thank you for this, Tom. Much grace and peace to you today.
Tom Felten on September 8, 2016 at 8:57 am
Love your insights, gagirl. Yes, we’re left holding the cloak—the tent—while the spirit has gone to be with Jesus. So grateful that even though we can’t that final journey with our loved ones, there is One who is with them—Emmanuel! Praise Him!
gagirllive on September 8, 2016 at 9:05 am
Amen, Tom. He will walk with us all the way home!
reaston on September 8, 2016 at 9:17 am
On my emailed version of today’s reading there was no passage reference link. The grey box at the top only referenced 2 Kings 2:11, yet you referenced other verses from 2 Kings 2 in the comments. I’ve also noticed that the scripture reference the last few posts has taken me to the Revised Standard Version, not the New Living. Is that a change in policy or your preference. Or did I do something to cause the version change? If these comments should go to someone else please forgive me. Thank you.
Tom Felten on September 8, 2016 at 10:41 am
Hi reaston, I hope I can help. You’re right, the Scripture READ text was accidentally omitted from today’s edevo (email) version of ODJ. It should be (as you can see above) 2 Kings 2:1-14. The Scripture references are all rendering in NLT. So I’m guessing that somehow you’ve selected the RSV as your preferred translation within BibleGateway. You can make this change by going to their homepage and selecting NLT as your preferred translation.
sandy229 on September 8, 2016 at 10:05 am
Thank you Tom for today’s devo!!
My Mother went to be with the Lord when she was the age I am now, 64. She had been sick all of her life, so even though it was very painful, it was a blessing because she was no longer in pain. She was so excited because she was going to be able to skate and do things she could never do here on earth because of her handicap. I kept thinking about that when I was in the hospital and almost died but then God healed me and told me it wasn’t my time to go. There is still a lot of work to be done here. Then when my Father went to be with the Lord in 2002, they were finally reunited in Heaven, along with both of their parents. It will be so good to be reunited with them some day, but for now I will just do whatever God leads me to do and go where ever He leads me.
I remember last year when the Father of my 2 sons had a severe heart attack and the Doctor gave him CPR for 30 minutes and finally and miraculously revived him, he told his brother God was not finished with him yet, then the next day, God called him home. It was so hard on both of my sons, but my oldest son took charge of everything and talked to the Pastor at his Father’s church, and planned the whole service for him. Before that he said he didn’t believe in God anymore, so this ordeal did bring him back to the point where he turned to God when he really needed him, but still has not come back to where he was. I will never give up on him, I pray for him every day. I know GAgirl aslo has a prodical so she knows how this feels.
Shalom to everyone!
gagirllive on September 8, 2016 at 10:27 am
Yes ma’am, I do. Never give up!
Tom Felten on September 8, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Praying with you, Sandy. Thanks so much for sharing about your family—it resonates. Can’t wait to see my Father and others again one day!
sandy229 on September 8, 2016 at 10:11 am
On another note I was thinking the lesson to be learned from Kings 2 was this.
Elijah and Elisha provide a model for mentoring. Mentoring is a two-way street. In these two men, we learn both how to mentor others and how to be mentored. Both aspects are vital to every leader’s life. Remain steadfast and loyal to the one who is mentoring you. Like Ruth to Naomi (Ruth 1:16), Elisha remained by Elijah’s side and God blessed him for his faithfulness and ability to be taught. Seek the spiritual inheritance that the Lord intends you to receive from those of maturity. Mentors, recognize that the source of the anointing that will be passed to the person you are mentoring comes from the Lord. In humility be willing to serve the one who is mentoring you. Elisha was remembered as Elijah’s servant, and kings immediately recognized the anointing that rested on him.
Shalom
Tom Felten on September 8, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Good thoughts! And how we need good mentors in Jesus these days. Thanks for drawing these insights out from the text, Sandy.
sandy229 on September 8, 2016 at 6:11 pm
Actually I got that from my Bible, in a section at the end of 2 Kings, called “Truth in action”.
minkjh on September 8, 2016 at 10:30 am
Tom, your post recalls for me the lives of saints I’ve known who have moved into the glorious worship life of heaven. Many of them struggled with health-related issues in their later years but they pressed onward knowing that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Eternity will bring us reunion not only with believers throughout the ages but also face-to-face with the One who can wipe every tear from our eyes and conquered death. May we all press on through His amazing grace!
‘Living or dying Lord, I ask but to be Thine; My life in Thee, Thy life in me, Makes heaven forever mine’
(Jesus, I Live To Thee- Harry Harbaugh & Isaac Woodbury)
Tom Felten on September 8, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Love those lyrics, minkjh. And, yes, may we all press on as Paul so beautifully modeled for us: Philippians 3:14.
johnswanson on September 8, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I hope to be reunited with my parents, even though they were not believers.
gagirllive on September 8, 2016 at 6:12 pm
Praying for you, John. Assurance—what a wonderful gift the Lord gives us! A gift we can leave our loved ones too so that there is no doubt as to where our eternal home will be! I pray your children and mine will never have to wonder about us or themselves so that we all experience this heavenly reunion. Be encouraged, friend.
samgaskill on September 8, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Thankful for this hopeful message of “heavenly reunions” today. Incredibly blessed by the heartfelt comments of the readers and of the personal meaning to our writer, Tom. My own mom went to be with the Lord at 54 and like Sandy, I identify being close to that age myself at 55. Mom loved our Lord but sadly didn’t experience all the benefits of the intimacy I’ve come to know with her Savior. I’d just like to add that my devastation was great when at 29, I was motherless, and without healthy family support or knowledge of Gods presence with me. While I believed in God I was largely unaware until several years later of the personal deeply intimate relationship that was possible with the Holy Spirit. Several years later I would experience losing 3 siblings at young ages but NOT without the ever present comfort and peace of my Lord! What a tremendous difference this made when loss came around again. To walk with Jesus in these times with the gift of hope leaves me with no adequate words of thankfulness. To be separated by death as gagirl expressed is so hard, but to know it is only temporary for those in Christ I have a peace I never could have imagined. May the anticipation and certainty of our heavenly reunions bring us great joy even in the trials of temporary separation. So happy to join in this fellowship today. God bless us all! Mary
gagirllive on September 8, 2016 at 4:57 pm
So nice to check back in and find you here, friend! Thank you for sharing your experience on today’s topic with us. Yes—having a personal intimate relationship with Christ makes all the difference in our temporary losses!
sandy229 on September 8, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Welcome back Mary! So good to see you here again!! You’re right, I don’t know how I would have dealt with all the pain if I didn’t have God in my life to ease the pain and give me the reassurance I would be with them again one day.