“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).

Would you believe that when I wrote the first Chaplain’s corner in this series that I did not plan on it being a series? I thought it would be stand-alone. Then, because of some Bible studies I am currently participating in, I felt led to write the second one published last week, thinking that would be the final one. And then, because of these continuing Bible studies and my pastor’s sermon this past Sunday, all of which are based on the same scriptures, this devotion just presented itself to me as a natural next in the series. God’s Word is like no other, and the continuity of the message and what we can learn about God through His Word continue to amaze, delight me, and transform me, as I hope it will you.

In the first of the series, we learned about God’s provision for Elijah during a famine that was prophesied by God through Moses all the way back in Deuteronomy 11. In the second of the series, we learned how Elijah, like Moses before him, met God on Mt. Sinai, and how God graciously revealed himself to him. Both Moses and Elijah had been frustrated because of the idolatry of the Israelites. This message is a fitting example of the beautiful and meaningful threads that God weaves through the Scriptures, helping us to learn more about God and the big story of the Bible – Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

Now we fast forward to when Elijah is nearing the end of his ministry and will be passing the baton to Elisha, who has been his servant/prophet-in-training for about eighteen years. Elijah and Elisha are coming from Jericho, preparing to cross the Jordan River. “Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (2 Kings 2:8). Elijah was taken, and Elisha succeeded Elijah and the lead prophet. Does that sound familiar? Maybe similar to when, upon reaching the banks of the Jordan River, Moses died, and Joshua who had been his second-in-command took over as God parted the water (Joshua 3:14-17).

Not only that, but we also read in the New Testament that John the Baptist, as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah, began his ministry of baptism for repentance, proclaiming Jesus. Jesus then came to him at that same Jordan River to be baptized and to begin his ministry, to which John explained “I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:28b-30).

• God called Moses to lead his people. He died and no one even knows where he was buried (Deuteronomy 34:5-8). Joshua assumed the responsibility of leading the people of Israel. “Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So, the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:9).
• God called Elijah to speak out against idolatry. He was taken to heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha then assumed the cloak of Elijah and continued his ministry. “Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. ‘Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.” (2 Kings 2:13-14).
• God called John the Baptist to prophesy about the coming Messiah. “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way—a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:1-4). While we know where John the Baptist is said to be buried, Jesus rose from his tomb and at the appointed time, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven” (Luke 24:50-51).

God created us to be in relationship with Him. But then, beginning with Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). And it is not just Adam and Eve. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). So, God in His justice must punish our sin. “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27a). “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a).

But praise God that is not the end of the verse! “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). God in love and mercy wants to pursue and reconcile us back to him. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).

Adam and Eve sinned. God pursued their idolatrous descendants in the wilderness through Moses; he pursued their idolatrous descendants amid pagan worship through Elijah; and he pursues us today through Jesus Christ, our Savior. All we must do is believe.

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

In Christ,

Judy