BEFORE WHOM I STAND
“And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.” I Kings 18:15
Elijah is a name among the prophets that is especially equated with boldness. He stood before Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, and pronounced divine judgment on the nation of Israel. He alone faced hundreds of false prophets on Mt. Carmel. Where did such boldness come from? What was the source of his unusual confidence? Perhaps those questions are answered, at least in part, in the words “before whom I stand” found in our text.
Before Elijah stood before others, he stood before God. While he stood before the enemies of God, he knew he was standing in the presence of God. He knew whose messenger he was. He belonged to God and would answer to God alone for his ministry. He was not standing in his own name, authority, or might. He represented the Lord God Almighty and stood as His servant.
What a difference it would make if more of those who claim to be called by Him could minister with the assurance that they stood before God! Men would not be so timid in declaring His truth if they knew they would stand before and answer to God. Preachers of our day would not be as interested in shaping their messages to appeal to men if they stood before God. We need men of God who have a message from God. We need men who have been with God in prayer and know that He has given His Word to be proclaimed with power. There is no question that time alone with God will be rewarded with His divine touch and a noticeable boldness.
We too are called to share His message with a world that is often uninterested in His Truth. Before we stand before them, we need to first stand before Him. As Christian servants in many different capacities, both men and women, we need God’s blessing on our lives. We need the confidence that is emboldened by standing before Him. Time before God prepares us for time before men. It may be that this is one of the missing elements in our ministries. Our world is desperately in need of men of conviction who are not for sale. We need men who are not as tuned in to the popular techniques of the generation as they are tuned into the heart of God. God give us men who fear God more than failure and long for His approval rather than the applause of mortals. God, give us messengers who stand in Your presence.