Keeping Your Focus

A while ago I received the newsletter from a wonderful ministry, Faith Mountain Ministries which is the ministry of Rev. Henry Vanderbush (www.vanderbushministries.com). Henry's son Bill wrote incredible article called Keep Your Focus. The article has to do with 2 Kings 2:1-12, the story of Elijah and Elisha.

9 “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." 10 And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so." 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.”

Bill Vanderbush then says the following:

“Now consider this test. All Elisha has to do is watch Elijah while he’s being taken up. But then God sends this spectacular show of power and glory. Here’s the point. In order to qualify for the greater anointing that your heart longs for, you have to be able to function with focus on what God has called you to, and not be distracted, even by the supernatural things going on around you that are from Him. Keep your eyes focused, and your heart pure, set on one voyage, fixed on His voice, set your gaze toward nothing else but Him.”

Elijah was taken up in the whirlwind.  As I read it, the reason for the chariots and horses of fire was to separate the two men from each other.

I believe this is an important message for believers today. I want you to consider it for a moment. The chariots and horses were from God, not the Devil. There can be times when the manifestations of God’s power can pull out focus away from the goal.  Elisha had to make sure Elijah did not leave his sight when he was taken up in the whirlwind, this was the only requirement to obtain his request for a double portion of Elijah’s anointing.

It is one thing to consider that difficult circumstances can draw our attention away from our focus on the Lord but when good things, even things of God, can draw our attention away from keeping our eyes on Jesus that is something different.  Mountain top experiences are wonderful and necessary, but if we let the experiences become necessary to have ‘fellowship with the Lord’ then they are distracting us from the right focus.  Let us make sure our Ladder Times serve their purpose, to provide confirmation of God’s presence, to give us the opportunities to meet with and if necessary make necessary changes to our lives.  Don’t let them become the focus we strive towards.