Chariots of Fire
One Year Bible (June 21)
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
“Chariots of Fire”
“God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
(Quote from “Chariots of Fire”, Eric Liddell)
“Chariots of Fire” is an amazing movie about two men who trained for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell was a devout Christian who was born to Scottish missionaries in China. He sees running as part of his worship and even refuses to run on the Lord’s Day to compete in his favorite 100 meters. Instead, he competed in the 400 meters on a weekday and won!
One of the favorite quotes attributed to him says, “The secret of my success over the 400m is that I run the first 200m as fast as I can. Then for the second 200m, with God’s help, I run faster.”
Many know of his Olympic victory through the movie, but do not know that he returned to his life’s work in China where he served as a missionary teacher. The British warned British nationals to leave for their safety. Liddell sent his wife (who was pregnant with their baby) to safety. He remained in China and suffered an inoperable brain tumor until his death in a Japanese civilian internment camp in 1945. This was just five short months before liberation.
The name for the movie came from the British Patriotic Song, “Jerusalem” by William Blake. Listen to a few of the words that this movie was named after, “Bring me my Chariot of fire! I will not cease from a mental fight. Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem.”
Eric Liddell followed in the footsteps of Elijah. He could not only “run like the wind”, but he was also fully committed to following the ways of God and his life’s calling was to build “Jerusalem”... the Kingdom of our Lord and Messiah.
The prophet Elijah left some pretty big shoes to fill, for the Elisha’s, the Eric Liddells of this world, and for you and me...
According to the Bible, Elijah and Enoch are the only two men that God took to heaven without them dying. We are told that “Enoch walked with God and then was no more.” (Gen. 5:24)
Elijah’s departure came after one more GRAND ADVENTURE.
The final assignment given to Elijah by the angel was to visit King Ahaziah (King Ahab’s evil son) who had a short two-year reign as king. Here is the question that he was sent to ask, " Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?”
Then, Elijah was to inform the king, “Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.” (2 Kings 1:3-4) YIKES!
Listen to the angel’s final advice to Elijah for his last mission on earth, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him. So Elijah got up and went with him to the King.” (1:15)
Look at how Elijah has come “full-circle” again... “OUT OF THE FRYING PAN” and back “INTO THE FIRE”!
It is no easy task to deliver bad news like that to the king who will have you killed. Elijah does not know the OUTCOME, but he knows the God who OVERCOMES!
The king dies as foretold, but as for Elijah… he will NEVER face DEATH! In fact, he is getting ready for a “JOY RIDE” and it will be the second biggest thrill of his life!
It is now time for Elijah’s final moments. The group of prophets from Bethel came to Elisha and asked him, “Did you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
Elisha is asked this question a couple of times and he responds with a faithful commitment to Elijah. “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” (2 Kings 2: 4,6)
Listen to Elisha’s final request of Elijah, his mentor, and model, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” Elijah replies, “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” (2 Kings 2: 9-10)
Guess what Elisha sees as they were walking along together?
“Suddenly, a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, ‘My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” (vs. 12)
Chariots, Indeed!! Majestic, Masterful, Triumphant!
I can just hear the theme song from “Chariots of Fire” right now in my heart and mind.
Do you know what James 5:17 says about Elijah?
“Elijah was a HUMAN BEING, JUST LIKE US. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”
Do you remember the last words the angel spoke to him, “Go and don’t be afraid!” (We human beings need that reminder.)
Generation after generation would talk of the Chariots of Fire and of Elisha who followed in his footstep with a "double share of his spirit".
An ordinary man such as Eric Liddell, who “runs like the wind” (like Elijah), would be inspired to live a “Chariots of Fire” kind of life!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t run very fast at all. However, I love to write and no matter how afraid I feel at times I am going to use that for God’s glory because I feel his pleasure when I do.
What will you do when you know that God is FOR you, WITH you, and IN you?
“Chariots of Fire”… Can you hear that theme song playing in your life?
