By Michael Quinton
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
1 KINGS 19:1-18
This is the story of the Prophet Elijah, but it is also the story of you and me in our daily walk with God.
God sent Elijah to preach to Israel during the reign of the most wicked rulers: King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. It was a time very much like the days we now live in.
Elijah had prophesied there would be no rain for three years and God withheld the rain. Elijah had prayed for the rain to return, and God opened the Heavens with a downpour.
Elijah had challenged the false prophets of the idol Baal. God sent miracles to prove Elijah was His prophet and that Elijah was speaking the truth.
Have you ever experienced wonderful times like these in your Christian walk and were feeling like you were so blessed and on “cloud nine”?
So was Elijah.
Then Queen Jezebel pronounced a bounty on the head of Elijah, and he fled into the wilderness in fear for his life.
God finds him hiding in a cave at Mount Horeb. The same mountain Moses had ascended to receive the ten commandments. At the time of Moses, it was known as Mount Sinai.
Elijah had fled back to his “comfort zone” when he was faced with adversity.
God asked Elijah: “What are you doing here?” 1 Kings 19:9
Elijah attempted to make excuses to God of why he had not trusted God even after the miracles God had provided Elijah.
Isn’t this what we do? We trust God if things are going “our way”.
God then has Elijah come out of the cave and there was a great wind, an earthquake, and a raging fire, but God was not in the spectacular; God was in the small, still voice.
- We cannot go back to the past. We must never forget the past, but not live in the past.
- God lives in the promise of the present and the future. Let’s trust Him. Lamentations 3:22-23
The question God asked Elijah long ago still begs an answer today from you and from me.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”
Michael Quinton is Pastor of Mesquite Baptist Church, 742 W. Pioneer Blvd., Suite A.
Sunday worship is at 10:30. We can also be found on Facebook and our website: mesquitebaptistchurch.com
(All messages in the Church Directory are the opinion of the writer, who submits them as a columnist)
Shouldn’t these religious editorials be published only in their church publications? This is a community publication with lots of differing religious beliefs. I find these opinions offensive. Would mesquitelocalnews.com publish something I write about atheism or agnosticism? We’re not all Christian.
Patti, I understand where you are coming from. Of course everyone isn’t Christian,or affiliated with any ‘Church’ group. There are many faiths/beliefs in this world. This message is published under Church News/Directory; which implies any church group’s message or information submitted to Mesquite Local News is published in that category. Also the name of the author is stated before the message as that person sends in their message as a regular contributor or columnist.Columnists write opinion pieces for publication in newspapers or magazines. If there are any activities/messages/other topics sent in that fall under this category that is where it is published. As you can see there are ‘Letters to the Editor’ under the ‘Opinion’ column as well. All are welcome to express their opinions/comments just as you did yourself. Just as any story/article/press release/community activity may not appeal or agree with everyone;that is the purpose of a news publication. The purpose of news publications is to inform with “Freedom of Speech” as mentioned in the First Amendment in the Constitution of the United States; and MLN is operated in the United States. I hope that helps clarify your question?