There is a mystery surrounding the acceptance and rejection of salvation. I cannot say why some would find Christ and then turn from Him. Perhaps the Lust of the flesh exceeded the purity of Word. Yet, for those who once obeyed the Gospel and then rejected it; renegotiating their walk with God, my prayer is that they might return before they are consumed by vain philosophies and the darkness of this age. In my years of ministry, I have found that most never make it back. It is hard to recover after having trampled on the Blood that once redeemed you.
For us, there is a lesson we must learn that was taught long ago. Hernán Cortés arrived in the New World in 1519. Upon his arrival, he burned his ships. Cortés sent a clear signal to his 600 men that there was no turning back. They destroyed their means of travel and were commissioned to move forward. The sight of those flames sent an unmistakable message of resolve. However, it took two years before Cortés succeeded in his conquest of the Aztec empire. While history does not give us a detailed look, I often wonder about hard times and set backs. I wonder if the men would have turned around had their ships been available.
We’re long past the days of conquistadors, but the story of those burning ships reflects the scene found in 1 Kings 19. Elijah, the older prophet, wrapped his mantle around Elisha the younger. The younger requested time to rejoin his family for what looked to be a going away celebration. He said, “Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.” For Elisha, there were things behind him that drew him; even family.
When Elijah pressed Elisha, the decision was made: Elisha burned his instruments of trade, slew his oxen, gave the meat to the people and went after Elijah. It was a seamless motion borne of desire. Elisha had nothing to go back to…he burned the ships. There was a finality that occurred that day. The smoke rising from the field. A wise prophet standing off in the distance. Elisha could not have moved forward with a divided heart. The mantle, the anointing, and the calling were too great and much more valuable than all the treasures of this life.
The lesson is clear: if you are to follow Christ, you will have to leave everything behind. Only a whole heart that pursues the Lord will make it to the end.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole