Have you ever seen that show “Ghost Whisperer”? I have seen segments of it–enough to know
what it was about. Ghosts who were trying to speak with those still alive. I am sure that everyone had
their own reasons for watching that show. I do believe that one of the primary reasons though was the
interest in life after death. Our culture has a fascination with the paranormal. Funny thing is, what many
of us don’t realize, or maybe we forget, that there really is a whole world of activity that is going on that
we can’t see. We live in a physical world, but we also live in a spiritual world, and there is an awful lot
going on in the spiritual world.
Let me ask a basic question, are you prepared to believe that there are powers at work that we
can neither see nor hear? Some people would regard that sort of thinking as crazy. They might even
suggest that anyone who adheres to any kind of theory close to the above should be checked out for
reasons of mental sanity. But it is true. When I think about my life, and the lives of those around me, I
can’t help but be convinced that there is something more to this life. I can’t help but think that there are
forces at work that we cannot see. I have experienced far too many “coincidences”, too many events that
I would say defy explanation.
I often get to hear stories of people who were once in terribly desperate situations and by some
incredible sequence of events, their lives have been changed in extraordinary ways. You see, sometimes
in life we find ourselves facing something that seems so terrible. At the worst of times, at our point of
greatest desperation, even the most hardened against God will get down on their knees and call to God
for help. In those moments, we know that unless something “miraculous” happens, unless something
“supernatural” takes place, we are done for. But then it happens. An incredible change. An extraordinary
sequence of events. A victory that seemed next to impossible. It all defies explanation at least in human,
everyday terms. The only rational solution is that there truly are powers at work in the spiritual realm.
God is at work.
In the Old testament, we find a story just like this. Elisha, who was a prophet of God, found
himself surrounded by an army out to capture him. The story is found in 2 Kings 6:8-23. It actually all
starts with the Syrian army making mini insurgent attacks on Israel. But for some strange reason, Israel
always seemed to know where the attack was going to happen. The Syrian King assumes that there must
be a spy in his midst who is working for Israel. But his “counsel of advisors” knew better. They tell the
king of a Prophet. One close to God whose name is Elisha. So the king sends out troops to get the
prophet.
Here is where things get really wild and weird. The prophet Elisha is in the town of Dothan.
Elijah’s servant gets up, looks out and sees that they are in trouble, they have been surrounded. This is
that desperate moment when all seems helpless. But Elisha prays; he prays that God would open the
eyes of his servant. And, in a rare instance in history, this man, Elisha’s servant is able to look out and he
sees that the hills are full of horses and chariots of fire.
Now that is something we never see. We look around and we see the figurative army around us;
we see our marriage falling apart, we see our kids struggling, we see our jobs in trouble, we look at our
business trying to make ends meet, or we look at our church and wonder if it has any future at all.
Basically we are just like Elisha’s servant; we see with our human eyes.
This is when we need to remember this story. It is in those moments, when maybe we can hear
the words of Elisha when he says “open your eyes and take another look”. We can’t see it with our own
human strength. We need God to awaken us. His armies have stationed themselves around us. God’s
angelic army is ready to defend us. In fact, if we have any faith at all, we know that in the end the battle
belongs to the Lord. This is not to guarantee that whatever trouble you are facing will be solved if all
you do is pray. But what this does tell us is that there is so much more going on then you and I will ever
be able to even comprehend. Look again.