https://odb.org/2025/04/11/good-grief
2 Kings 2:8–14 (NIV): 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
The story of Hachiko waiting for his owner to return despite the latter having passed on is legendary as Hachiko did the same thing, day in day out, for 10 years, whether is summer, spring or winter! Most of us would have watched the movie starring Richard Gere, and I’m sure we would have been touched by Hachiko’s faithfulness.
In life, we also want to be faithful like Hachiko, to the people we love or respect. Like being faithful to our beloved wife. Or being faithful to the cause of our leaders based on their example when they were leading us. When they retire or pass on, we should honour them by being faithful to their cause by continuing their work. Often, when leaders die, their cause die with them. One great example in the bible is that of Elisha with Elijah. Elisha shadowed Elijah for some time as the latter’s disciple, and when Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind by heavenly beings, Elisha saw it and was blessed with a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. In other words, Elisha could do what Elijah did before but better and more powerful. In 2 Kings 2, we see that Elisha parted the Jordan like Elijah did before using Elijah’s cloak.
If there’s someone we love and respect a lot, and they have departed, the best way to honour him or her is to carry on their work in Christ. If they had been a good and faithful servant of God during their lifetime, we should likewise be a good and faithful servant of God. We honour them by carrying on their legacy, their work like how Elisha did in respect of Elijah. If it’s mission work, we continue that mission. Let the nations be blessed and the name of our LORD be glorified by the work of our hands! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 