MAN LIKE US, MEN LIKE HIM

In one of my discipleship conversations this week, one lady mentioned she's currently reading the book of Kings—and naturally, Elijah came up. We had quite the exchange about this wild, fiery prophet of God.


Now, Elijah is no ordinary figure in the biblical storyline.


- For starters, his very name means "Yahweh is God" (El-iYah).

- Secondly, his story strangely parallels key New Testament timelines—appearing during Jesus' transfiguration and being referenced by John the Baptist and others.

People thought John was Elijah (John 1:21), and some even thought Jesus was Elijah returned (Matthew 16:14).

- Thirdly, he never died —he was taken up in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11), which means there's a future moment when he may return and finally taste death (Revelation 11:3–12, referring to the two witnesses).


Despite all these unique traits and heavenly accolades, James drops a bombshell. Ati... "Elijah was a man just like us." James 5:17 (NIV)


Wait, what!?


You mean Elijah? Fire-from-heaven-calling, rain-stopping, showdown-on-Mt-Carmel Elijah? That Elijah... was just like ME (Insert your name here and blink twice)?


That verse alone should humble us and stir us.


I’ve asked that dear disciple to go do a bit of homework—write a report on “What kind of man was Elijah?”

Because if he was a man like us, the better question is: Are we men like him? Or is the crowd of witnesses in heaven shaking their heads and wondering, “What’s wrong with this generation?” (Heb 12:1)



So here’s a simple charge:

As you continue reading your Bible and reflecting on the lives of people like Elijah—

Don’t just ADMIRE them.

ASPIRE to be men and women like them.

Because while Elijah was a man like us…

God is still looking for men like him.

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