Where is the Lord God of Elijah? 2 Kings 2:14.

This was a question asked by Elisha, the young prophet who had been selected to continue the work of Elijah, the most famous prophet in Israel. Elijah was expecting to be translated to heaven. Three times he sought to get Elisha to leave him rather than have him on hand when the great moment came. "Tarry, I pray thee, here." But Elisha would have none of it. "As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee."

So they journeyed on together until they came to the river Jordan. Elijah smote the waters with his mantle. They divided, and the two men went over on dry ground. Finally, Elijah, about to be taken, said to Elisha: "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. . . . And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it" (2 Kings 2:9-12).

Elisha then took up Elijah's mantle that had fallen, and went back and stood by the banks of the river Jordan. He too smote the waters as Elijah had done and cried out, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" The waters parted as before, and Elisha went on his way.

We do not know how long Elisha had been servant with Elijah. During this time he learned a great deal about the God of Elijah. Elijah had exercised a great influence on, him. There was no escaping that. But now he was to find out for himself about the Lord God of Elijah. Because Elijah had so faithfully represented his God, Elisha asked the important question, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?"

That is a fundamental question to ask. Christian men and women who are nearest and dearest to us convey an impression of the God we claim to believe in. As representatives of Jesus Christ, we believe in love, righteousness, purity, honor, integrity. We ourselves claim to walk with God. Our lives witness in one way or another to this quality of life. The people with whom we live and work are thus led to ask the question, "Where is the God of this Christian?" We will not be confronted with a more fundamental question than that.