The Aftermath

            I have had those days when everything goes right. True, it is not very often. I have preached a lot of sermons and taught a lot of classes in my life time. Some of those experiences were really great but I often would wait for the attack which I knew was almost inevitable to take place. I could count on someone coming up with a proverbial pin to pop my balloon. If someone else didn't do it, I would do it myself by getting into trouble by relaxing my guard and letting my mouth do the talking instead of my brain doing the thinking first. Such was the case in the line of the homecoming food tables after a “good” sermon. My comment about the caloric content of a beautiful chocolate cake brought a barrage of comments about the previous victories of that cake at the county fair. I knew I was in trouble so just quietly took a big piece of the cake. First Kings 19:7-8 says, “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. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” 

           Elijah had just won a great contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. God's power was displayed as Elijah's offering was consumed along with the rocks and the water of the altar. There was no doubt as to Who was victorious in that battle. King Ahab told Jezebel and Elijah took off. To say that he was afraid probably was an understatement. The account tells of the journey of Elijah as he is running for his life. Now, there is the man who just had a victory over 450 of the enemy and he is running from Ahab's wife. Elijah had mocked them and in the end, had them all killed. One would have thought that it would have been victorious day in the life of Elijah, and it was, but things went south rather quickly for Elijah. Perhaps we have been there in some small way. We have had the victory and then comes the attack, from somewhere unexpected, but it hits us nonetheless. After he runs, he is tired and falls asleep expecting that he is going to die but he is awaken by the nudge of an angel, not just any angel, but the Angel of the Lord. Verse 6 says there was a cake and a cruse of water. It was “angelic” food It was true “Angel Food Cake.” It must have been a powerful recipe as we notice in the next verse that Elijah as it was enough to sustain him for the next forty days and forty nights. When trials come and tribulations are heaped upon us, God is always there with a special recipe of His Own making. We sometimes here people pray for enough of God's grace to get through a tragedy or something unexpected. God's grace is always there and it is always sufficient for each and every battle. Our lives are often filled up “ups” and “down” as we might call them. We have times of victories and we have times of trouble. We can be victorious of the enemy and he will retaliate in most cases. You can expect it, but when it comes, realize that God has always His own portion of Angel Food cake for you to eat which is going to get you through the difficulties. The “ups” and “downs” never stop, you just learn how to get through them with what God gives you in each and every case. We have been saved from the penalty of sin and we can have victory over the power of sin and someday, we will be saved from the presence of sin. Then, you will be in heaven face to face with your Lord and Savior. Praise God today for his supplying your needs in the times of tribulations and persecutions.