Let It Burn!

Yesterday at Access, Jason preached a message about Elisha’s call to follow Elijah. It’s a familiar story for me, but I suddenly snapped to attention when we reached this part of the story:

 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

– 1 Kings 19:19-21

 

Elisha literally burned his past before moving on to his future. He was bold and made sure that he had nothing to return to, even if, in moving forward to something new, there were times he’d be tempted to retreat to the familiar. It brings to light a principle that you and I can utilize in our own lives:

You cannot step into your new life until you set fire to whatever is tethering you to your old life.

For some of us, that may mean we need to set fire to a hurt or trauma before we can move forward. For others, a deadly relationship may be in need of the Elisha treatment. Whatever it is that holds you back, we need to turn back, set the fire, and run forward so we can go toward your new purpose. Today, take a moment to evaluate the current position of your journey. Have you felt stuck? Maybe it’s time to grab the matches and let something from your past burn. Nothing you lose in the flames will not be worthwhile in going forward toward your ultimate destiny. Let it burn!