June 3, 2021 — What are you Doing Here?

“I’m part of a small fellowship group that gets together every week,” Stan commented one morning.  “The other day we were looking at one of the stories in the Old Testament and I saw an application for my faith walk.”

“What were you looking at?” I asked.

“We were in the First Book of Kings,” Stan replied, “looking at the story of Elijah and Jezebel.”

“Jezebel,” I said. “She was really something else!”

“Yeah,” Stan replied, “not what you would call a nice person! She pretty much chased Elijah out of town after he got rid of a whole bunch of the priests of the false god she liked so much.  Elijah basically fled for his life. He headed for the desert and that’s where the part happened that has an application for my faith walk.”

“That was a long time ago,” I said. “How could that have any application to your life today?”

“At one point,” Stan replied, “Elijah was hiding in a cave and God asked him a question that is the same question He asks me on a regular basis through the Holy Spirit.”

“What question is that?” I asked.

“It’s recorded in two different places that Elijah was asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ For me that’s an essential question to be asked, as well as to ask myself regularly. What am I doing, and is what I’m doing what God has for me to be doing?”

“What are you doing here, in the sense of being somewhere you might not belong?” I asked.

“Certainly that,” Stan replied, “but also in the sense of asking exactly what it is I’m doing here. What am I doing while I wait for the train?”

“Oh,” I said, “like in how or what are you doing in working out the salvation that was worked in by the finished work of Christ on the cross?”

“Exactly, my friend,” Stan replied.  “Working out that salvation as a disciple is what I am to be doing while I wait to step into eternity. And it’s essential for me to be asked on a regular basis, ‘What am I doing here?”

________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

Then he came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9.

And it came about when Elijah heard it (the sound of gentle blowing), that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:23.

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for your provision of life eternally with you through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Thank you, too, that you want me to work out that salvation during the time you keep me on this side of eternity, while I wait for the train.  I confess that too often when you ask me, “What am I doing?” my answer is that I am walking away from and apart from you. Please forgive that, and please help me in following every step of your lead so I am only who doing what you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you have salvation to work out? If no, why? Do you not know that eternal salvation is God’s free and gracious gift that only needs to be accepted by faith? If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with working it out while you remain on this side of eternity? Do you agree that God does and will ask, “What are you doing here?” Why or why not? If He does ask you that, what is your answer? If you sense changes may be needed, how are those changes going to happen?