GOING ON
Brian Clark
2 Kings 2: 6-8; Philippians 3: 9-12
A simple thought from the scripture we had on Saturday - "and they two went on". I am sure the Lord would encourage us continually. How important it is not to stand still! I have the impression that in this chapter, Elisha and Elijah were going on: they were going on together. To go on you have to have an object before you. In the path, there is a goal before us. If any one of us is going to do something we look to what may be the result. I get the impression that they two went on in the power of what was before them. Paul would encourage us as to the importance of pursuing. How we need to! We are in a day that is marked by apathy and indifference, when perhaps it is easy to settle down, with perhaps some thought that we have something in the way of light and some understanding of the truth. But I think Paul, and I am sure the Lord, would encourage us to go on. We have sung as to the Holy Spirit being with us. We need to make use of the Spirit's power to give us strength to go on. We have sung as to the Holy Spirit being with us. We need to make use of the Spirit's power to give us strength to go on. Think of how Paul could say "not that I have already obtained the prize, or am already perfected; but I pursue". Think of that, "I pursue"! We need energy for that, we need food, as we have had recently. We need to have right food that would strengthen and help us and build us up so that pursuing is possible. We all know that if we are feeding on what is not really food, it weakens us so we could not pursue rightly. Feeding on Christ Himself and all that belong to Him would, I am sure, give us strength. We know it in ourselves as proving the Spirit's help, that we are able to pursue. It is like the two that went on together. How wonderful that is! I suppose we could link it with our brethren. We desire to go on together, ·cutting in a straight line the word of truth". How privileged we are to have those that we can go on with in the same path, not that it is exclusive in any way, apart from the fact that the Lord would have us in the Way that is narrow which leads to life. I am sure that is what the Lord would have us to do, to enjoy life which is in Himself. So it says, if also I may get possession of it, seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus". How glorious that is! How glorious it is to read, but it is another thing to know it from our own experience as proving it. How it would change our view, change our thought, perhaps even alter our lives, if we really kept this before us, that we have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus! How often we have ourselves before us and things that are not going to build us up, but it would make us the more urgent. You get the sense here of Paul proving the Spirit's service. To be taken possession of is a living matter, not an historical one. These very words themselves are evidence that it is not just truth but is formative - "seeing that also I have been taken possession of by Christ Jesus". How wonderful it is! I think we would be helped, if we kept our eyes looking upward, looking off unto Jesus "the leader and completer of faith". How often we get bogged down by things here, not that we would be stoical, or unmindful of what is here, but to bring them into the presence of the Lord. Bringing things before Him prayerfully and confidently gives us rest of mind and soul, as ever keeping Him before us.
Pursuing is possible, although it is a day marked by indifference, so we have to go against the current of things here. The world has no place for Christ, it has no place for that glorious blessed Man who is at the right hand of God. For the believer, the lover of the Lord Jesus, it means going against the current. It is wonderful to know that the Spirit's help is available to us. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world". What a recompense, what a reward we have inwardly as keeping Him before us, pursuing, looking towards the goal.
These very scriptures would encourage. I had just that little thought relating to Elisha and Elijah that "they two went on". A lot more could be said as to that chapter, but I thought in that verse they had purpose of step, displaying life that was towards God and pleasing to Him.
May we be encouraged, for His Name's sake.
LONDON
24 March 1998