You Need to Eat!

“And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise [and] eat; because the journey [is] too great for thee.”  1 Kings 19:7

Elijah was headed in a direction in his life he was not prepared for.  After a great victory for God’s people on Mt. Carmel, he went to Jezreel to witness Jezebel’s revival response to the power of Almighty God.  When Elijah received a shocking death threat instead of humble repentance from Jezebel, he fell under the power of fear and ran for his life.  When life turns on you in sudden unexpected ways, you may find yourself on the run in desperate need of God’s spiritual food.  

Who really knows the outcome of the coronavirus?  What most of us believe is that by the end of April or May, the economy will be cranking back up and most of us will be playing catch up in just about every aspect of our lives.  Because of the death threat looming over our nation and the world, we very well may find ourselves plummeting in a depression that is more devastating personally than it is economically.  Because that is a strong possibility, you may want to “Rise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”  

Deep discouragement and dark depression can overpower the strongest Christian when the highest expectations are crushed.  I’m afraid that the journey is too great for us so we need our daily bread.  Elijah was so exhausted the angel of the LORD had to come a second time and touch him.  I believe God is touching us right now, but we need to “Rise and eat, because the journey is too great.”  

A proper reading of the scriptures in Matthew 24 does not paint our future with breath-taking sunsets and bright blue skies.  A proper reading, if you believe what is says, is that the days ahead will be unparalleled in comparison to the days behind us.  God is getting His people ready and working in hearts and is much more interested in a spiritual revival than an economic one.  So you should, “Rise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”  Don’t be the one who needs to be touched a second time.  Revive your heart for God now and eat from His Word.  Chew it slowly in meditation.  Receive the full spiritual benefits of every bite.  Eat from God’s Word for the sake of those around you who are starving for God.  You need to eat!