1 Kings 19:9 -13 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Jimmy and Donna were great folks to know, Donna had been saved a number of years, but Jimmy, good man that he is, was not a Christian. He would attend church from time to time and was always congenial and never interfered with Donna’s worship. He always opened his door to me when I would stop by to visit. Never once did I sense any displeasure during my visits. On one occasion I was able by the guidance of the Holy Spirit to sit down with him and present the gospel. He refused to pray the sinner’s prayer, but allowed me to pray for him. I prayed and asked the Lord to continue to speak to Jimmy’s heart and to draw him to Himself. Many months went by and I never felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to offer an invitation to him on a one on one situation again.
Then on a Sunday morning as I stood at the door thanking everyone that came and listening to the comments of the worshipers, Donna and Jimmy were there in front of me. A still small voice said, now is the time. Now by all that the human mind tells us, It was not the time, why, there were over fifty folks in line behind Jimmy. But in the still small voice was insistence. So I leaned forward and whispered, “Jimmy isn’t it time?” The tears began immediately, and he nodded his head yes! There as the church was leaving the building, Jimmy gave his heart to Christ and has been a useful servant to the Lord for many years.
What is the point of this story? Certainly it is wonderful to hear the conversion story of anyone, but there is another point we need to consider. We will never know, but would there have been a tragic outcome to this man’s life, if his pastor had not heeded the still small voice of God?
Tell me dear friends, can you remember a time when that still small voice of God spoke to you and you smothered it with doubts, fears or human logic? Perhaps there is even now a quite voice telling you to go share the gospel with someone. Will you heed the call of God? We who claim Christ as Lord, should take time to listen for His voice as Elijah did on the mountain. I enjoy worship services where there are shouts of victory and tears of praise, but, how marvelous that the God of heaven would speak to me! Through these years of my life I have come face to face with men of political and financial power, none have impressed me as that still small voice of God that whispers in my ear His love and instruction.
It is important that we read our Bibles and pray, but dear brothers and sisters let us hide our faces and listen for a still small voice.
James Avery jamesaveryfwb@earthlink.net