I spoke with a member who's in her 80's yesterday.  She was in pain and was almost ready to give up.  When the aches and pains of life keep getting worse, when relief no longer seems possible, when the pain pills no longer work, it would be such a relief to throw in the towel, turn off the lights and check out.  Life has never been easy, but when the pain only grows worse or we see evil prosper and righteousness trampled, giving up looks tempting.  This has been true since the beginning of time, and it is surely true today.  When our troubles grow like trees and the horizon is cluttered with more and more bad news, it would be just nice if we could put it all behind us, forever!

          Such feelings happen often to us all, to male and female, to young and old, to princes and paupers.  And such feelings aren't born only of desperation.  King David cried out in anguish when his son Absolam sought to kill him, something we'd all understand.  But Jonah the prophet wished he were dead only because a favorite tree died.

          In today's text, Elijah crawled in a cave because King Ahab was after him.  It wasn't that Elijah, a mighty prophet of God, couldn't have held his own with the wicked King;  it was that wickedness was so abundant everywhere that Elijah had given up hope.  Ahab and Jezebel had led Israel into the depths of wickedness, and Satan seemed to prosper everywhere.  So even this powerful a man of God crawled into a cave and hid.  And there he felt sorry for himself, thinking no one faithful to God was left, save he himself.

          God had to reveal Himself to Elijah in a mighty way, and He did, but not in a way you or I'd have chosen.  God first sent the earthquake and the windstorm and the firestorm, but these were only to test him, to make him think of God.  When God finally came to Elijah, He was not in the awesome power of nature, but in the still, small voice, the voice of conscience, perhaps, the gentle whisper that was heard above all others.

          A perfume advertisement of many years ago featured a sultry female voice saying, "If you want someone to listen, whisper."  You know what, I paid attention when I heard that ad - one of the few ads I remember.  Someone on Madison Avenue had my number and was dialing it!  Well, my friends, God has our number too, and He dials us up through His almighty Word, His changeless message to a changing world.  He speaks to us also in the gentle whisper of a beloved Bible passage, a quiet time prayer, a kind smile, or even the giggle of a small child playing.

          God doesn't bluster or rant and rave to get His point across;  He speaks in the quiet voice that touches hearts and calls us out of our caves.  Elijah thought his work was done.  He'd killed hundreds of prophets of Baal, but still evil prevailed.  He'd watched as people followed after other gods and ignored the Almighty.  Even after years of drought and famine they didn't repent and return to God, so Elijah was tired.  He'd seen all he cared to see and crawled in his cave.  But God called to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  The prophet replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty.  The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.  I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

          Poor Elijah!  You can almost hear the tear drops fall, as this mighty man of God was ready to give up.  But then why shouldn't he?  The people of Israel were in a miserable state.  They were worshipping idols and cavorting with temple prostitutes.  They cared little about God and ran scared every time their faith was challenged.  They had money, so they felt they didn't need to pray.  They had much leisure time, so much that they didn't have time to worship God.  They were too busy on personal projects to give God more than an occasional nod here and there.  Basically, their faith was dead, a thing of comfort now and then.  Elijah, in his exasperation, was ready to throw in the towel.

          So you can almost hear God letting out a divine sigh of weariness ("Aahh, Elijah...").  Here was a man who'd seen God's power up close and personal.  He'd stood by as the lightning of God consumed the water-logged altar;  He'd seen the oil and flour of God last 3 years, and he'd seen the life of God come back to a dead son.  Elijah had more power than any man before or after.  He'd seen the face of God, but he'd forgotten it.  Suddenly, life was all up to him.  "God is there - yes, I know He is - but (sigh) the world is so evil.  The church is filled with hypocrites and people no longer care.  They've given up their faith, and I'm the only one left.  It's just a matter of time before they kill me, too.  What's the use?  Oh, woe is me!"

          Ever felt that way?  The world is going to hell in a hand basket and you're the only one left who cares.  Your family's falling apart.  Liberals are leading you down the moral slippery slope and the conservatives are giving away your freedoms to big corporations.  Kids don't respect parents and parents are chasing after money.  Nobody's faithful to their marriage vows and unwed mothers are everywhere.  Schools don't teach kids and preachers don't preach the Word right.  You might just as well slip into a cave, or into your prescription drugs or your whiskey bottle or whatever else will produce your little cave, your personal fantasy land.  If you've ever felt that way or done that, you're in good company.  Come, join Elijah in his cave.

          But God will only take such talk for so long!  Then He gets tough!  Come on, man, get on with life!  "The LORD said to him, 'Elijah, get up and get out.  Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.  When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.  Anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.  Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.  Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.'" (1 Kings 19:15-18)

          Get out of your cave, Elijah, and get on with life!  There's work to be done and a life to be lived.  Don't give up now, because there's a whole lot God still needs you for.  There are precious people to serve and beautiful sunsets to watch.  God will settle the scores with the wicked.  You just tend to the Lord's business.  Now get on with your life!

          It's so tempting to look back in life at what might have been, at what coulda, woulda, shoulda happened.  But that helps little and solves nothing.  Get on with your life!  God has plenty of good still in store for you.  He loves you and has a plan for you.  Jesus died for your sins and has forgiven you for eternity.  He has taken your penalty on Himself and promises you paradise.  You and I deserve hell, but because of Christ's death and resurrection we get heaven.

          So what are you doing in your personal caves, my friends?  You know, no matter how tempting it is to stay in our little places of safety, it's a relief to come out of that cave, to get some things behind us, no matter how nasty they may be.  We all have our little caves, and I think God doesn't mind if we go in there for a little while to get away from reality.  But don't stay there long.  Get out and let God take care of that stuff that seems so impossible now.

          Jesus went into a cave for us, a serious cave, a place of death and destruction.  He was killed on a cross and buried in a grave.  The Sinless took His place among sinners, the Living among the dead.  The Light of the World turned out His own light, willingly, for us and for our salvation, that we might not live in darkness forever, but live in the Light to the world.

          No matter what life has dealt you, don't stay in your cave.  If your cave is built of resentment, get some fresh air!  If your cave is lined with self-pity, tear it all out!  If yours is filled with the darkness of secret sin, knock a hole in the wall!  If misfortune, mistakes, or fear bog you down, flush the place out!  Get on with life and watch how God brings in still more blessings.  Get out of your cave and into the light of God's grace.  You can't move forward with your head turned backward!

          Last Tuesday I stood before a judge in a trial I had requested.  Eight months ago I had an accident with Carol's car and was cited for Careless Driving and Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.  I felt it was unfair that the other fellow who hit our car received no citation, and thought I could prove my innocence.  But as I stood before the judge, he kept reminding me I couldn't prove innocence by pleading the other driver's guilt.  I was found guilty, paid the fine and will certainly pay more car insurance.  But at least it's over.  Ever since the night of January 11, I've driven past the Justice Center wondering what the judge was going to do, and now, at least, I know.  It's good to have it behind me.  The most poignant moment, though, was when my son said, "Don't worry, Dad - to me you'll always be innocent."  He was only joking, but in a way that's exactly what Jesus might have said.  "Don't worry, Bob, because I forgive you, you'll always be innocent."

          It's good we all have second chances, and God gives us lots of them.  That trial taught me some things.  I learned the Law is unforgiving - it isn't flexible.  It means what it says, and blame or resentment or regret or self-pity or pleading innocent will not change the facts.  The Law convicts us of a harsh reality - our sins.  We can't escape the Law if we stand before the Judge alone.

          But thanks be to God that at the moment of our guilt, Jesus takes our punishment.  No one else can do this.  If we had to pay the fine, we'd all be dead.  Thanks be to God we are declared innocent by the grace of God and our faith in His Son Jesus.  We're innocent, so let's move on with life!  Amen.

Copyright © 2002 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.