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Exit Right

May 11, 2025

One of the greatest aspects of the Bible is that it tells the stories of real faith of real people—both their successes and failures. Throughout "The God Life" series, we've studied Elijah, a man just like us, showing not just how to live but how to exit this life God's way. Now, Elijah knew exactly when his final day would come. And he’s not the only one who had this intel. His successor, Elisha, also knew. And Elijah sowed into the next generation until his final moment on earth. For most of us, we don't know which day will be our last, but we all will eventually exit this life for the next one. As Dr. Adrian Rogers once told me after I completed my term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, pointing to the exit door, "James, do you see the sign over that door? It says, 'Exit.' Well, that is exactly what you are right now—an 'Ex-It.'" One day, we'll all be an "ex-it," and we need to make sure we exit right. The greatest legacy you will leave is a life well lived.

Topics: Judgment

In this series

The God Life

The God life is a life lived in the presence of God, through the power of God, for the praise of God, accomplishing the purpose of God, to give glory to God and goodness to others. In this study, Pastor James Merritt will teach lessons from the life of Elijah. Studying the life of Elijah will reveal what an extraordinary God can do through an ordinary person.

Bible Reference

Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.
The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.
Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”
And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.”
And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the LORD has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.”
But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him.
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