Tempted to Quit

Tempted to Quit

 2 Kings 2:1-6

It’s Olympics time.  This past week, one of the USA’s gymnasts pulled out of competition citing “mental distress.”  She took a lot of flack because, in general, the USA doesn’t like quitters.

In times past, our heroes were those who toughed it out.  

The 1992 Summer Olympics featured two tremendously poignant moments. American sprinter Gail Devers, the clear leader in the 100 meter hurdles, tripped over the last barrier. She agonizingly pulled herself to her knees and crawled the last five meters, finishing fifth—but finishing.

Even more heart-rending was the 400 meter semifinal in which British runner Derek Redmond tore a hamstring and fell to the track. He struggled to his feet and began to hobble, determined to complete the race. His father ran from the stands to help him off the track, but the athlete refused to quit. He leaned on his father, and the two limped to the finish line together, to deafening applause.

Some stories of persistence border on the absurd.  For example, A young fellow wanted to be a star journalist but lived in a small town (not much possibility). One day the dam upstream broke and the town was flooded. He got in a rowboat and headed out to look for a story. Found a lady sitting on her rooftop. He tied up the boat and told her what he was after. (They both watched as various items floated by). She says, "Now there's a story." "No, that's not a story." Finally a hat floats by and then does a 180 degree turn, goes upstream a ways and does another 180 degree turn, etc. The fellow says, "There's a story." "Oh no, that's not a story. "That's my husband Hayford. He said that he was going to mow the lawn come hell or high water!”

In his book, “Living Above the Level of Mediocrity,” Charles Swindoll quotes a poem by an Anonymous author.  He writes…

Nothing in the world

Can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not;

Nothing is more common

Than unsuccessful men

With talent.

Genius will not:

Unrewarded genius

Is almost a proverb.

Education will not;

The world is full of

Educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination 

Alone are important

Today in our text from 2 Kings 2:1-6, we see a lesson in determination.  Elisha is determined to follow his master, Elijah, to the end.  There are several points where the head prophet challenges him to quit, but Elisha presses on past the place of beginnings, past the place of dreaming and beyond the victories of the past.  Elisha was determined to press on all the way and not stop.

1. Don't Let Testing Stop You (vv. 1-6)  
1. It can be challenging to see your commitments through to the end.
1. DON'T TARRY AT GILGAL - vs. 1-2
1. Gilgal was the place of beginning. It was where the nation began. 
1. It was the first city Israel took after crossing the Jordan. 
2. The first passover was held there. 
3. A new generation was circumcised there as Moses had ordained.  
4. The manna ceased there and they are the food of the land after 40 years of manna. 
2. Gilgal literally means “a rolling,” for the Lord had rolled away Israel's reproach in Egypt (Joshua 5:9)
3. Many Christians today are tempted to settle down at their place of beginning. Many believers have never grown very far beyond where they began in their Christian life.
4. It is like the small child who fell out of bed and when asked by her mother why she fell, she answered," I don’t know mama, I think I went to sleep too close to where I got in".
5. Many Christians go to sleep too close to where they got into the Christian life and never get any further. Paul dealt with this problem in Hebrews 5:12. Paul is saying that when they ought to have been bearing burdens, they themselves have become a burden. When they ought to have been examples, leaders, teachers, workers, and helpers, they needed examples, teaching, and help themselves.
6. Elisha presses on.  He doesn’t stay at the place of beginnings.
2. DON'T TARRY AT BETHEL - vs.2c and 4a
1. Elijah tested Elisha to stay at Bethel. Bethel was a place of dreams. Jacob in Genesis 28 dreamed dreams at Bethel. He dreamed about a ladder that reached into heaven.  When he woke up, Jacob called that place, Bethel, the “house of God.”
2. Dreams are great - especially if the dreams are God centered. Now Elisha is tempted to stop at dreamland and join the host of dreamers. Dreams are good if we dream and then do. Most dreamers dream about what ought to be done and then dream of doing something about it someday. It is alright to dream but only dreaming is not enough.
3. People know they ought to attend church faithfully and they plan to do that, someday.
4. Some dream of supporting God's work, someday.
5. Some dream of really doing a work for God… someday.
6. Dreams + work = reality.
7. J.M. Power — The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
8. T.E. Lawrence once said, "All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for the many act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible…"
9. Elisha presses on yet again.  He refuses to get stuck in the land of dreaming.
   

C. DON'T TARRY AT JERICHO - vs.4c and 6a

1. Jericho was the place of past victories. It was the place of the first real victory when the Israelites came into the Promised Land. They marched seven days and the walls fell. Now Elisha was tempted to tarry and sit down on the laurels of what had happened in the past.
2. Many of God’s people are quite content and happy to settle down at Jericho, the place of past blessings and talk about the good old days.
1. They talk about the good old preacher they once had.
2. They talk about how God moved among His people in yesteryear.
3. They talk about the souls who once were saved.
4. They talk about the old church, its services, and a dedication now lost.
3. The song, "Auld Lang Syne," is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days.”
4. Here’s the thing, if you spend your time in the past, you’ll miss the present. Too many Christians are fighting for the good old days, and they are missing the present days where the fight needs to be. 
5. Don’t forget the victories and blessings of the past but don’t live on them either. Learn from them. Praise God for them. Grow by them. But don’t live on them. Get new victories and blessings for today. God is the same today as yesterday. 
6. Jericho means "the city of palms" and it was noted for its many springs. It was the Palm Springs of its day. That is where people retire to the past. Not all of God’s servants get to retire.  Remember Moses was 80 yrs. old when he got started. It’s not what or where you were yesterday but what you are today. It’s where you are today. Live for today with God. 
7. Once more, Elisha presses on.  He will not remain stuck in the past, no matter how grand and glorious that was compared to today.
   
   
   

1. On Thursday, December 21, 1899, after cutting short a Kansas City crusade and returning home in ill health, D. L. Moody told his family, "I'm not discouraged. I want to live as long as I am useful, but when my work is done I want to be up and off." 
2. The next day Moody awakened after a restless night. In careful, measured words he said, "Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me!" His son, Will, concluded his father was dreaming. "No, this is no dream, Will. It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go."
3. God is calling, and I must go… Is that your reply to God’s word today?  I wonder how many of us are even listening for God’s call in all of the busyness of our lives?
4. Elisha was tested to stay where it all started, but Elisha went on… wanting more from God.
5. Elisha was tested to remain dreaming in the House of God, but Elisha was determined to press on to know more of God.
6. Elisha was tested to rest in the place of past successes, but he kept on moving into his future with God.
7. What about you?  Are you stuck in the past, dreaming about what God has done in other people’s lives?  Or are you hungry to know more of God and His working His plan for your life?
8. Elisha wouldn’t quit.  Will you?  Have you?