“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
1 Kings 19:21 (NIV)
This verse has always impressed me, for it was a demonstration of Elisha’s determination not to go back. I think of the disciples leaving their boats and following Jesus, then going back to the boats after the crucifixion until the resurrected Christ appeared on the shore. If they had been Elisha they would have burned their boats when they first followed Christ, so that they would have nothing to go back to. It is accepted wisdom in our family not to burn bridges, Wanda and I praise our grown children when they leave employers well without burning bridges. However, when it comes to following Christ, some burning might be called for in our lives. The Lord said to a man who wanted to bury his father and follow Him, to let the dead bury the dead. That sounds a lot like burning a bridge. God used Elisha in a mighty way and He used Paul in a mighty way - both of these men were 110% committed to serving their God. Not many of us are called to this type of service but it seems to me that we can be obstacles to those who are called to this type of service. We say things like you need balance in your life, or don’t be so fanatical, or try to be an ordinary person, or find a nice mate and settle down. Paul says I wish all of you were as I am!
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