II Kings 2:8-16 “And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.”

Text Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Earlier, God said to Elijah, “Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room” (I Kings 19:16). It was now time for Elisha to assume Elijah’s post as prophet, but before retiring, Elijah would ask Elisha a final question; “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee” (vs. 9). Elisha’s response would reveal his true nature and that which he counted the greatest worth. When he could have chosen gold, he chose God; when he could have chosen riches, he chose righteousness, and when he could have chosen secular prosperity, he chose spiritual principles; “And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” Upon hearing Elisha’s request, Elijah enlightens us to a truth worthy of remembrance; the right choice is not always the easy choice! Elijah said, “Thou hast asked a hard thing” (vs.10). The word “hard” means tough or severe. The right choice is tough because your flesh is going to fight it; “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other” (Galatians 5:17). The right choice is severe because the foe is going to hate you; “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world . . . the world hateth you” (John 15:19). Choices may not be easy, but they are enlightening; they reveal your true nature!