The Good You May Do
June 29th, 2009In 2 Kings 13:20-21, an intriguing story is recorded. Some Israelites apparently opened the grave of Elisha intending to bury a man (placing multiple bodies in a burial site was the common practice of that day). As they were doing this a band of marauding Moabites came near so they hastily threw the dead man into the grave. When the dead man touched the bones of Elisha, and man they were trying to bury came to life and stood on his feet. Now, Elisha performed many great and amazing miracles during his life, but do you think he ever thought he would perform one after he died?
The fact is the good we may do today may live on after we are dead and gone. The impact each of us makes on God’s Kingdom may never been seen while we are alive. Often we get discouraged serving God because we don’t see the results of our efforts. We strive, labor, and agonize and it seems to accomplish nothing. Our perception, however, is not reality.
Sometimes our accomplishments are unknown to us. The mighty prophet Elijah faced his greatest discouragement after his displayed God’s might on Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18. God was shone to be superior to Baal and the prophets of Baal were slain. When Jezebel found out about it, however, she vowed to kill Elijah. He thought he had accomplished nothing and fled into the wilderness. Elijah, however, was not alone. God tells him in 1 Kings 19:18 there were 7,000 Israelites that had not worshipped Baal. Men Elijah had probably unknowingly strengthened and encouraged by his example.
Sometimes our actions will bear fruit after we are gone. The prophet Jeremiah preached his entire life. What did he see as a result of his efforts? He saw his people curse and ridicule him. They threw him into a well. They cut up the letters he sent. Finally, he watched as his people were carried off into captivity because they had not repented and heeded his message. What did he accomplish? His writings and example remain today encouraging countless individuals who feel like throwing in the towel to hang on a little bit longer.
Galatians 6:9 tells us: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” We should never cease striving in God’s Kingdom; we may never know the good we will do.
