The Vision and the Valley

When they had crossed (the Jordan), Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said "I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit." 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."

II Kings 2: 9 -10

“If you see me as I am being taken from you,

you will get a double share of my spirit.

If you don’t see me, you won’t.”

“If you see me.”…What does that mean?

It means that nothing happens until our eyes are opened, until we receive vision. Until God opens our eyes and gives us a vision of what his Kingdom is all about, we remain blind to the things of God. We can sit in church and listen to sermons for 100 years and still not have a clue---until we are given vision.

Are you saying that some people are lucky, and some aren’t….that if God gives you vision, great; if not, too bad for you?

No, God is not stingy with his gift of vision. He sent his Son to open our blind eyes. Anyone who draws near is soon given what Elisha was given, what Peter, James and John were given up there on the mountain of transfiguration. Everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds.

You may not see what Elisha saw. You may not see what Peter, James and John saw on the mountain. But if you want God to make himself known to you in a personal way, it will happen. Your eyes will open. You will see.

For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

II Cor. 4: 6

The God who said, "Let there be light", at the dawn of creation turns on the light in your heart, and now you begin to see Jesus, to know him in a new way. When this happens, you’re up on the mountain with Elisha, with the disciples, with a great multitude which no one can number, of every nation, tribe and tongue.

No doubt most people reading these words have already had a taste of this at some point in their lives. For those who feel this hasn’t happened yet, it will. If you are seeking, you will find. God will give you vision.

But here’s the problem: we tend to confusion vision with reality. The vision is not reality. It's only a vision, until we do something with it. In fact, if we don’t act on the vision, it will fade and leave us in deeper darkness than we were in before.

To help us turn the vision into reality, God takes us down into a valley, where we learn to act on the light of our vision.. We come down from the mountain into a valley of struggle where we begin to turn the vision into reality.

And as they still went on and talked, behold a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elish saw it and cried, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more.

Then he took up the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other; and Elisha went over.

II Kings 2: 11-14

Spiritually Elisha was up on the mountain. Elisha could have said, “Hey! This is great! I’ve just seen glory. I think I’ll build a shrine here with a plaque: “This is where Elisha went up to heaven.” And I’m going to stay right here, because this is what I’ve been looking for all my life!”

But that’s not what Elisha did. He left the spiritual mountain and went down into the valley where he turned his vision into something real. He took Elijah’s mantle - his authority from God, went back into the world, and started serving God’s people in Elijah’s place.

Now notice what Peter wants to do hundreds of years later, when he’s up on that mountain of vision. Peter wants to stick around and build a religious shrine.

"Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him>" And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only.

Mark 9: 5b-8

“No shrines, Peter. You’re not going to make an institution out of this vision. You’ve seen my Son as he really is, so listen to him! Obey him!"

And where does Jesus take these men? down into the demon-possessed valley - into the real world, where Peter, James and John will begin to turn the vision into reality; as they learn from the Master how to lay down their lives for the Kingdom of God.

Whatever vision of God we receive is a gift. If we allow him, God will cause our lives to be transformed by that vision.

"….With unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; by the Spirit of the Lord."

II Corinthians 3:18

The heavenly Father has already arranged a valley for each of us to walk through. In that valley, as we bring the light of God into the darkness of this world, we translate our vision into reality. Just as Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah, struck the Jordan with it, and walked through the parted waters, we receive the Spirit of Jesus, and touch people’s lives with his redemptive power.

Many professing believers have an emaciated idea of church: What’s church? You go into the building, sit in a pew, sing some hymns, listen to a preacher, drop some money on a plate, and you go to lunch. You’ve done your duty, you’ve been to church. But once you start getting the vision, that version of "church" isn’t enough.

God’s church, the Body of Christ, is much, much more. It’s a double doorway.

One door opens to the glory of God, where our vision is renewed each time we gather. “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

The other door opens into the valley, where people - people we know - are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

And the Lord Jesus says to each of us “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” “My Spirit is your 'Elijah’s mantle.'” So go out there and feed those sheep, heal them, give them hope, harvest them for the kingdom.

Don’t just go through the vision door and forget the valley door. The vision on the mountaintop is useless unless we follow Jesus down into the valley and connect with human lives in his name.

So how do we enter the valley as disciples of the Lord, when we walk out that door of our church or meeting hall? We do exactly what Elisha did. Just as Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle and continued his prophetic ministry with double power, so we go out into that troubled world as men and women who have been anointed and sent by the living God.

Elisha didn't pussyfoot with that mantle! He didn’t tiptoe down to the Jordan and say to himself “I wonder if this will work," and timidly dip the thing into the water. No, he took that mantle and whacked the water with all his strength! “Where is the God of Elijah!," and the water gave way to the redemptive power of God.

Pick up the mantle that falls to you every time you gather with other believers, and go out there and do something with it! Don’t tiptoe! Don't pussyfoot! Be bold, especially in your prayers to God. Come boldly to the throne of Grace. You’ve seen the Lord, so come to the Father in his name and boldly ask blessings for that person you’re pleading for. “Where is the God of Elijah?” Whack the water with the mantle! God won’t be upset. He’ll be delighted that you’re starting to show a little faith! Pray, and know that you’re being heard. Pray, and know that the Spirit - Elijah’s mantle - is helping you.

As you move out among people, be there as someone who’s seen the light from God! Turn the vision into reality as you touch people with the life of God as you witness to the grace of the Lord Jesus.

If we gather in our fellowships week after week to have our vision renewed, and then go out and never turn the vision into reality, how long can we expect to keep receiving vision from God?

Take the vision into the valley. Pick up the mantle and serve! The Spirit will go out there with you and show you exactly where and when and how. You’ll be amazed at the things that will happen that never happened through you before. Expect that some time during the days which follow your reading of these words someone will come stumbling across our path with a need. Maybe they’re lonely. Maybe they’re sick. Maybe they’re short of funds. Maybe they’re angry with God. Now they’ve stumbled into your space. What are you going to do? You can pretend that you have nothing to offer and walk on, or, you can pick up Elijah’s mantle and act as God leads.

All you have to do is make a start. Open your mouth, and the Spirit will give you words. Reach out with a helping hand and the Spirit will empower you. Now the mountain vision is becoming real in your life.

Expect this to happen. Look forward to it. Trust God to open your eyes - He will. You will be amazed at what Elijah’s mantle will accomplish through you, out there in that valley of despair!