Moses sinned, being provoked by the people. There is no record that Elijah sinned, although we understand he was not perfect.

Moses died and was buried.

One of the most telling incidents of all in the life of Elijah was his departure from the earth. His last miracle—the parting of Jordan. Then a chariot of fire and horses of fire. Don't you love it? What a set of pallbearers, but how suitable for the man of fire! Even Elisha was pushed aside.

Then the whirlwind or windstorm in which Elijah ascended into heaven. Lord let me ride in that chariot behind those horses of fire. Let me live in the windstorm.

This is an important part of God and consequently of the witness of God. We are so infiltrated with humanism and democracy in America we are losing sight of the chariot of fire and the horses of fire. The Christian Gospel has become too involved with the needs of people and not enough involved with the needs of God. The balance must be restored.

Paradoxically, the more involved we become with the needs of God the more use we will be to people. Jesus was remote but look at the good He did!

If your child was at the point of death, who would you rather have pray for him or her, a pastor that was actively engaged in social betterment or Elijah?

God didn't say, "I will send Moses, or Ezra, or Daniel, or Abraham before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord," but Elijah. Why Elijah? Why is this type of individual so important to God?

Moses was able to tell people how to please God, how to keep God's commandments. We need people today who can tell us how to please God, how to keep His commandments. We Christians of America are not faithfully keeping the words of Christ and His Apostles because we have been taught we do not have to in order to go to Heaven. However unwittingly or unintentionally, we have been lied to.

But Elijah did not give his testimony in teaching or writing. Elijah was just there.

There is something awesome about a person like Elijah just being there. John the Baptist, the man of the spirit and power of Elijah, did not go to downtown Jerusalem. He remained in the wilderness and all sorts of people came out to him to repent and be baptized.

The presence of a person like Elijah acts as a knife in the conscience of people. The two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter Eleven torment those who dwell on the earth.

The churches of the end-time, if they are to bear a true witness of God, must not only instruct people in the righteous ways of the Lord but must be a knife in the conscience of all who are not living a godly life in Christ Jesus.

The two olive trees of Revelation Eleven speak of the Elijah-Elisha anointing that is at hand, the promised latter rain. But first God must prepare us so we can receive such power.

To be continued.