"Call and Mission"
By Michael Browder Ph.D.
February 28, 2010

Today we read the scripture about the Prophet Elijah and the son of the widow of Zarephath. [I love those Old Testament names, don’t you? Knock. Knock. {Who’s there?} Zarephat. {Zarephat who?} ’s’ere a fat man preaching today?]

In I Kings 17, God tells Elijah to go and stay with the widow of Zarephath. While he is there, the prophet performs a couple of miracles. First, the lady continues to have flour and oil in her vats, so that she can keep making bread for him.

There is a message in this. Whenever we give to others, whenever we cast our bread on the waters, whenever we provide financially for the Lord’s work, God always provides for us. You can’t out-give God!

In our scripture today, we see that the widow’s son dies. Elijah revives him by stretching his body out over the boy three times. Bible scholars have put forward several explanations for why Elijah did this. In my opinion, I believe that Elijah was giving the boy CPR. In fact, I would claim that this is actually the first time CPR is ever mentioned in history. Right there in the Bible. Around 870 B.C.

Today is Boy Scout Sunday. One thing that every good Scout should know is CPR. And so, today, we Scouts will take our example from Elijah.

I remember that, when I was a Boy Scout, I had to know First Aid. I studied it at several stages along the way to becoming an Eagle Scout. I lived so far back in the day that they hadn’t invented the name CPR, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Of course, we did CPR. We just didn’t know what it was called.

When I learned First Aid, we learned four basic rules. They were good rules back then, and good rules now. Good rules for First Aid. Good rules for CPR. Good rules for Scouts. And good rules in life, especially as we are seeking to follow Jesus Christ and find his salvation.

Rule Number 1: Be prepared! This is a pretty good rule, eh? In fact, it is the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared. This is a pretty good rule for First Aid. Be prepared. For example, you can’t perform CPR if you’ve never learned how to do it. You have to learn it. You have to practice. Only then, are you ready when an emergency comes. You have to be prepared. And to be prepared, you have to work ahead of time.

Rule Number 2: Make a realistic assessment. You have to know what you are dealing with. What is really going on? If someone has broken their leg, all the CPR in the world is not going to do them any good. Before you start, you must make an accurate assessment.

Rule Number 3: Take action. The purpose of First Aid, the purpose of CPR is to take action, when action is needed. You can study all the CPR you want to, but

if you fail to act, all your training is worthless. If you just stand around and watch, the person might very well die. You have to act, if you are going to help.

And finally, Rule Number 4: Follow up. First Aid is just what it says: the first step in aiding someone. Much more help may be needed. Someone who needs CPR is also going to need an ambulance and a hospital. You can help them in the short run, but you cannot provide all that they are going to need. There must be follow-up.

So, these are four pretty good rules. Be Prepared. Make a realistic assessment. Take action. And follow up. They are very good rules for First Aid, and they are very good rules for life, especially when we are talking about our relationship with God.

In the life of the church, we have now entered into the season of Lent. Lent is the period of forty days, prior to Easter, when we prepare ourselves spiritually through penitence and acts of self-sacrificing faith. We keep our eyes on the cross, remembering the faith and commitment of Jesus, and his sacrifice for us.

As we prepare ourselves spiritually during Lent, I want to suggest that the four rules I have listed will serve us well in our walk with the Lord.

First, Be Prepared. There are so many people in this world, even in the church, who do not know God. This is because they have never taken time to do it. And let me say this, you can’t get to know God just by having a good thought about him every once in a while any more than you can know another person by having a nice thought about them every once in a while.

To know a person, you must spend some time with them, and learn things about them. To know God, you must spend some time with him and learn things about him. How do you do this? By spending time in prayer. By reading the Bible.

I challenge you, during this important spiritual season of Lent, I challenge you to spend more time reading the Bible, more time talking to God in prayer. Don’t have a Bible? Just tell me, and I will give you one. Don’t know what to read in the Bible? Just let me know, and I will give you some suggestions. Not sure how to pray. Just ask me, and I will share some helpful ideas with you. You can talk to me in private. Nobody has to know that we chatted. You can even send me an anonymous email. I will be glad to help. If you tell me what you are doing, I will pray for you and try to encourage you.

Rule Number 2. Make a realistic assessment. What is the condition of your faith? What is your relationship with God? Do you spend enough time on it? Are there things in your life that God is not pleased with? What do you need to be working on?

Rule Number 3. Take action. There is no substitute for taking action. The Bible says: “Faith, without action, is dead!” You must act. Work on your relationship with the Lord. Work on your relationship with other people. Spend time in prayer and with the Bible. Get rid of those things that are keeping you away from God. You can do it. God promises to give you strength. And remember: The longest journey begins with the first step.

Part of your action ought to be doing good for others. There are a lot of people in this world who need help. God “has no hands but our hands” to help other people in need. When I was a scout, you were supposed to do at least one good deed every day. And then, only after you had done your good deed, you could put a square not in the end of your neckerchief. Have you done your good deed today?

Rule Number 4. Follow up. Don’t let things just drop. Don’t just try it once and fade away. Keep on keeping on. And try to take it to the next step. If you don’t come to church regularly, try making it a habit. If you are already in church,

try Sunday school or a regular Bible Study. If you are already in a study,

try teaching, or helping other people. There are always new adventures and opportunities opening all around you.

So, there you have it. Four rules for your relationship with God. Be Prepared. Make a realistic assessment. Take action. And follow up. I pray that these rules will be a blessing to your life.

Prayer. O God, as we come before you in this season of Lent, this time of spiritual preparation, we commit ourselves to prepare our lives spiritually, to be honest about our sins and our shortcomings. Lord, we commit ourselves to take real action, and to persevere in our relationship with you. Give us your strength and help to be faithful as your people. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.