The Road to Heaven

Rev. Herbert Bailey preached the homecoming message for us today.

II Kings 2:1-11

Many of
our people have already gone to heaven. Jesus went to prepare a place for us
all. There is a road. Are we in the way? There are many of us who want to stay
here as long as we can, but Elijah was ready and willing to go. He was down at
times; he was up at times; BUT he never gave up. We too are to be encouragers along the way.
Elisha was called to go along with Elijah. There were prophets around, in Bethel, Jericho
who were learning the word of God in their schools. They were studying. Imagine writing letters
to someone and finding they were never read. How would that make you feel? Imagine how it makes God feel when we don’t
read the 66 letters he sent to us. He
wrote these letters to tell us what we should and should not do. He tells us
what is right and what is wrong.

Elijah and
Elisha came down to the end of the road for Elijah. They went to Gilgal which
means “the circle.” So many people are going in circles today. The devil says not to get saved now. They go
home. They come back to church. The devil says wait. They go in circles. Sadly,
some Christians do that as well. We must remember that the road is straight and
narrow, not a circle. Elijah and Elisha didn’t tarry there; neither should we.

They went
onto Bethel

which means “house of God.” That’s where we need to be. The Bible says not to
forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It’s good for us to hear the
testimonies and the singing and preaching. We can visualize ourselves in
heaven. If the house of God doesn’t make us happy, we should be on the altar. Get
loose from the circle and go to the house of God. This house is on the road to
heaven. Spend time at Bethel.
Don’t listen to the world and all the bad news within our society. God is the
same today as he was yesterday. He clothes the grass of the field. He feeds the
birds. He can take care of us.

Elisha didn’t
want to think about Elijah being taken away from him. His heart didn’t want it.
He followed him onto Jericho
which means a fragrant place. Do we stop and smell the roses? Are we a blessing
along the way? Bethel and Jericho weren’t perfect. Bethel had a golden calf. Since the people couldn’t
go to Jerusalem

to worship they made this image. Elijah reminded them they were not to make a
graven image. He told them they were hypocrite prophets. God destroyed Jericho many years
before, and said anyone who rebuilt it would be cursed. The water was bitter. Things wouldn’t grow.
Death was there. Those living there probably didn’t even know about the curse
and asked Elijah to heal the land. He took a new pot…God has to get us out of
our old pot too. Then he put salt in it. This will even purify meat. The
springs were healed. There was no more curse.

Elijah went
to the Jordan River. Elisha wouldn’t leave him. This was the last
mile of Elijah’s journey. He took his mantle and smote the waters, and he and
Elisha walked over on dry ground. It was a smooth crossing for Elijah. Death
will be the same for us. The Bible says it is a shadow, and a shadow can’t hurt
us. Elijah was leaving his office in good hands. Elisha could have asked for
anything, but all he wanted was a double portion of what Elijah had. He told
him if he saw him leave it would happen. He never let Elijah out of his sight.
The chariot of fire came. The whirlwind came. Elisha watched and a mantle came
floating down from the air. He took it up, wrapped it around himself, and asked
where is the God of Elijah? He parted the waters and walked back across.

God is with
those who are still on the road. When we leave out of here, we can’t come back.
We won’t be seen again in this life. We
need to stay on the road to heaven.