Perspective

1 Kings 17:1

“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab,"As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." NKJV

I read this portion in my daily Bible reading several weeks ago, and it has been rattling around in my spirit ever since. Elijah declares to King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings of Israel who hated him, “there is not going to be any dew of rain around here until I say so.”  The authority of this statement comes from some key words that grabbed my attention in the first part of the verse, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand.” Elijah repeats this statement again in I Kings 18:15 during the third year of the drought. During this time Elijah has been living off of ravens and a poor widow. He owns nothing but the coat on his back. His authority to speak and act comes from where he stands, and that is before the very throne of God.

In John chapter 19, Jesus has been beaten and is brought before Pilate and the mob of people calling for his crucifixion. Pilate, who finds no fault in Him, says to Jesus, “Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" Standing there beaten almost beyond recognition, every cell in his body screaming in pain, stripped of all dignity, the world turned against him, Jesus replies with steady voice of authority, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” In the face of humiliation, suffering, and death, Jesus knows where He stands.

Our identity, self-worth and perspective of life and the world around us is so influenced by the media, our friends, job, position, possessions, and family that we fail to see things as God sees them and walk in the authority that God has given us. Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy…. raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 1:21 says this place where we are seated with Christ is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

Our connection is not to the earth but to God. The Word defines who we are, how we are to live, and where we stand. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

Where do you stand?

Andy Clark