A Train Journey

A train journey from New Delhi to Chennai was not a strange trip to me any longer; for I had frequented the city for various reasons, ranging from academic to spiritual even to personal. However, the trip this time was special as the Lord's speaking during the journey was spectacular. As much as I was on a train journey literally, so much the more was I in a train journey spiritually. This reminds me of human life that begins from a source and ends at a destination. Between these two stations are the journey of life. The "bon voyage" of the journey depends on two crucial factors: the tract and the engine, of course, the passengers' coach is dependent on these two. 

In our life's journey, the tract that has to be followed is the word of God; the written word of God, the logos, and the Spirit's speaking through the written word, the rhema. These comprises the tracts. Upon the word of God with its logos and rhemas, there is the need for the "engine," the Holy Spirit, that drives the train. Basically, our life's journey too must be by the power of the Holy Spirit based on the word of God. 

Such was my experience in this trip. As I was reading and studying the word of God as my daily portion, the speaking of the Lord was so marvelous. 1 Kings 2:1-3 records the journey from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to Jordan, and finally the receiving of the double portion of the spirit of Elijah upon Elisha; a step by step guide for a normal Christian life to be clothed with the Holy Spirit for the economy of God.

Gilgal was a place where God's people were circumcised to deal with their flesh (Josh. 5:2-9); Bethel is the place to give up the world and turn to God absolutely, taking God as everything (Gen. 12:8); Jericho, the first city that Joshua and the people of Israel had to defeat when they entered into the good land, signifies the head of God's enemy, Satan (Josh. 6:1-27); and the river Jordan, where the New Testament baptism began, signifies death (Matt. 3-5-6 and note 6,2). To cross the river Jordan, Elijah struck the water with his mantle, which typifies the outpoured Spirit, the Spirit of power (v.8). The Spirit of power dealt with the river of death so that the way was opened for Elijah and Elisha to cross over. All this signifies that in order for the age to be changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament in our experience, we must deal with our flesh (Gal;. 5:24), give up the world and turn to God (1 John 2:15-17), defeat Satan (Rev. 12:11), and pass through death (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 2:20). Recovery Version footnote 1 of 2 Kings 2:1.

Life's journey as a normal Christian life to fulfill God's New Testament economy is much the same. Subjectively in experience and objectively in truth, there must be the dealing of the sinful flesh, the leaving of the world to absolutely be for God, the defeating of Satan by the Lord's leading and the overcoming of death by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, these are what a normal Christian experiences in his life's journey. The issue of this experience is the receiving of the outpoured Spirit typified by the mantle of Elijah, and then the "tearing of our clothes into two pieces" in verse 12, signifying that we no longer treasure what we are and what we can do. With all these experiences, we are fully transferred from the Old to the New Testament.

This will result in our living and services being blessed by God. If one take a proper "train journey" of life, he will be a man of God filled with the Spirit of God and there will be the manifestation of what He is in all that he does. This is the precious lesson I learned from my train journey; a journey that taught me lesson of life.

This enjoyment of the word has become my portion as I shared the same with the serving ones in the office here in Chennai today morning. What a blessing that I can be a part in this train journey!

Bon voyage to the train journey of life!