Day 4 on Courage – God is Alive
Old Testament Elijah was marked with courage. “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives. . . .’” (1 Kings 17:1).
Before considering the full conversation, I’m impressed with Elijah’s assurance that God is alive!
In this story, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel lived as though God was dead and dormant, and they were leading their country into Baal worship. Elijah, however, served the God who is alive and real and active and powerful.
Elijah may not have been as politically astute as Ahab. But Elijah knew something far more valuable – God lives!
Sometimes we might act as though God is dead. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ rose victoriously from the grave. He is the one who triumphantly said: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” (Revelation 1:18).
The story is told about Martin Luther, the 16th century church Reformation leader, struggling with gloomy and depressing moods.
The Pope was after him. His colleagues were bickering among themselves. He felt the heavy pressure that came with being a professor, pastor, and father. He suffered from kidney stones. He would mope around the house muttering underneath his breath.
One day his wife Katherine decided to do something drastic. She changed her clothes, put on a black dress, and prepared breakfast for him.
Seeing her dressed in funeral clothes, he asked, “Someone died?”
She answered, “Yes, don’t you know?”
He asked, “No, who has died?”
She solemnly told him, “God. God died.”
Martin said: “What are you saying!? Have you gone crazy? God cannot die!”
Katherine replied, “It sure seems like God is dead by the way you are acting.”
Luther thanked his wife and etched a Latin word on his desk: vivit. Vivit means, “He lives.” Whenever things weren’t going well and Luther was tempted to complain about them, he looked at that one simple word and was invigorated.
Our God is alive! Elijah knew it. The early followers of Christ knew it. Others throughout church history knew it. Let’s live with the same, bold, confident assurance – Jesus is alive!
Action Step: Take courage – our God is alive!
~ Pastor Dave
