July 30

“He picked up the mantle that had fallen from Elijah.” — 2 Kgs 2:13

We are continually seeing useful lives removed from earth. The loss seems irreparable. But there are no accidents in God’s providence. Everyone’s life is a plan of God, and no faithful servant is taken away–until his part in the great plan is finished. There is abundance of work remaining–but it is the work of others, not of him who is gone. His mantle falls at someone’s feet– yours, perhaps.

A godly father dies, and there is grief in the home. How he will be missed! Yes, but an elder son stands by the coffin, strong and gifted, blessed with the blessing of the father’s life and teaching. At his feet the mantle falls from the father’s shoulders. He must take it up, and with it lift the burdens and responsibilities of manhood. He must become now his mother’s protector, and the shelter and defender of his younger brothers and sisters.

A godly mother dies, and when a gentle mother goes out of a home–the loss indeed seems irreparable. But if there is an elder daughter in the sorrowing group at the grave, at her feet the mantle falls.

So it is in all the breaches which death makes in Christian homes and communities, in every case the mantle falls at someone’s feet. God makes provision that his work shall not suffer, unless his servants fail in their duty. We must be ready always to take up what is ours.