What Doest Thou Here?

Elijah’s retreat on Mount Horeb, though hidden from man, was known to God; and the weary and discouraged prophet was not left to struggle alone with the powers of darkness that were pressing upon him….

God met His tried servant with the inquiry, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” I sent you to the brook Cherith and afterward to the widow of Sarepta. I commissioned you to return to Israel and to stand before the idolatrous priests on Carmel, and I girded you with strength to guide the chariot of the king to the gate of Jezreel. But who sent you on this hasty flight into the wilderness? What errand have you here?….

Much depends on the unceasing activity of those who are true and loyal, and for this reason Satan puts forth every possible effort to thwart the divine purpose to be wrought out through the obedient. He causes some to lose sight of their high and holy mission, and to become satisfied with the pleasures of this life…. Others he causes to flee in discouragement from duty, because of opposition or persecution…. To every child of God whose voice the enemy of souls has succeeded in silencing, the question is addressed, “What doest thou here?” I commissioned you to go into all the world and preach the gospel, to prepare a people for the day of God. Why are you here? …

Of families, as of individuals, the question is asked, “What doest thou here?” In many churches there are families well instructed in the truths of God’s word, who might widen the sphere of their influence by moving to places in need of the ministry they are capable of giving. God calls for Christian families to go into the dark places of the earth and work wisely and perseveringly for those who are enshrouded in spiritual gloom…. For the sake of worldly advantage, for the sake of acquiring scientific knowledge, men are willing to venture into pestilential regions and to endure hardship and privation. Where are those who are willing to do as much for the sake of telling others of the Saviour?
Conflict and Courage p. 214
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mike who is travelling by plane today. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One day when Esther was in her late teens, she and I decided to go for a hike up to Inspiration Point, a high cliff overlooking the campgrounds at Black Hills. She had been up there many times before, but for some reason, that day, she could not find the trail. We wandered around in wet, thick grass that was up to our knees. It was rough going as the side of the mountain was steep and the grass so thick that we could not see the multitude of pointed rocks that were hiding there until we stepped on them. To add to our misery, there were many plants growing there that resembled a saw-palmetto. Their needle-sharp leaves really hurt if we accidentally bumped into them. We also had to be very careful not to get too close to the prickly pear cactus the grew all around.

When we were about two-thirds of the way up and making progress on our trailess trek up the side of that mountain, I stopped to rest. As I looked up to see how far we were from the top, a movement caught my eye. A group of vultures, looking for a meal, were flying lazily above us. To make her laugh, I looked up at them, shook my fist, and shouted, “Just because I am an old woman and out of shape, doesn’t mean that you are going to get a free meal.”

To my surprise, Esther didn’t think it was a bit funny. She suddenly realized the truth of my words and began worrying about me. She decided that we should go back down before something dreadful happened. All of my protesting did no good. She was sure that if we continued, those vultures above us would indeed have me as a delightful dish.

As we were making our way back down, we came across the path, and the return trip was fairly easy. We would have made it all the way up to the top if we had been on the path the whole time. We failed to reach the top because we were not on the path that lead to our desired destination.

So it is in life. We are all on a path that leads to one of two destinations. How much we need to find that right trail! Our whole future depends upon it. Our Dear Saviour tells us, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,14 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” ” I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,” John 14:6,10:9

Without our Great Creator, we “are as sheep having no shepherd.” Matt 9:36 Without Jesus as our guide, we are wandering along the broad way that leads to destruction. Without our Loving Saviour’s leading, we will never reach “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14

Thank God! We do have a Good Shepherd Who will lead us in the right way! “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isa 40:11 Jesus assures us, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Let us follow our Dear Shepherd joyfully and with our whole heart. Let us trust Him to lead us on the steep and rocky path that leads our Heavenly home. Let us keep our
eyes upon the goal regardless of the circumstances that surround us, regardless what others are doing, regardless of the disappointments that threaten to disillusion us, ever “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Heb 12:2

Rose