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by Pastor Greg Laurie

It seems the older you get, the faster time flies by.

When I was in elementary school, time seemed to crawl like a snail. When will the day be over? When will we get Christmas break? When will summer vacation start? Now, it's not just the years that zip by; it's entire decades!

I read an interesting article recently about what time it is in your life. It goes like this: If your age is 15, the time is 10:25 A.M. If you are 20, the time is 11:34 A.M. If you are 30, the time is 1:51 P.M. If you are 40, the time is 4:08 P.M. If you are 50, the time is 6:25 P.M. If you are 60, the time is 8:42 P.M. If you are 70, the time is 11:00 P.M.

What time is it for you? For me, it's about 7:30 P.M. That's sad, because I've been going to bed at 9:30 P.M. these days!

Now that I'm a grandfather, it reminds me that I have moved into another generation. As my parents' generation passes and my generation enters its final stage, I find myself thinking more and more about my legacy, my heritage, and what I will be passing on after I pass on.

In its account of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, the Bible gives us a memorable story of one man who passed his legacy to another.

Deep in a wilderness cave, where the aging prophet Elijah had taken refuge, the Lord told him that his ministry was drawing to a close and he was about to leave the scene. But before Elijah's departure, he had to find someone to carry on the vital work God had called him to. It was time to pass the baton.

The Lord already had that successor picked out. Elijah was to anoint an earnest young farmer named Elisha to take his place. Elisha became a servant to the prophet, but I have a hunch they became close friends, as well.

How gracious the Lord is to provide us with fellowship and friendship in those seasons of life when we're battle-weary. It's a reminder to us that feeling discouragement or depression should not keep us isolated from our brothers and sisters in Christ. That's the time when we need them most!

In the season that came before Elijah's dramatic home-going, the older prophet would spend a great deal of time with his young associate, preparing him for the work at hand. How important this is for us to do as well—to take all the Lord has done in our lives and invest it in the lives of others. It's called mentoring or, to be biblical, "discipling" others. Sadly, many of us have not made this a priority in our lives.

In what has become known as the Great Commission, Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you" (Matthew 28:19-20 NLT).

Somewhere along the line, evangelism has been isolated from discipleship. But Jesus never made such a distinction! One should automatically follow the other. The Great Shepherd never intended for newborn lambs to be left alone in the pasture.

Next to actually leading an individual to faith in Christ, the greatest joy in life is seeing that man or woman grow spiritually and begin leading others to the Lord!

You don't have to be a Bible scholar to play a vital role in a new believer's life. For many new converts, the main problem seems to be acclimating to the Christian life. They need teaching, but they also need a personal example.

In short, they need a friend.

Later in his life, the apostle Paul demonstrated this ministry of friendship by discipling his young associate, Timothy. In his final letter to the young man, he wrote: "But you know what I teach, Timothy, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and my patient endurance" (2 Timothy 3:10 NLT).

How could Timothy know those things? Only be spending much time with his mentor. That was the apostle's model of bringing others along in their walk with Jesus Christ.

The fact is, we all need to be about the work of helping and encouraging those who are younger in the faith. It's not only important for their spiritual health, but for ours as well. Every believer needs outflow in their lives as much as they need input. Do you know what you get when you have all input and no outlet? The Dead Sea! By mentoring others, we will save ourselves from stagnation.

New believers need our wisdom, knowledge, and experience as mature believers. And by the same token, we as mature believers need their childlike simplicity of faith, their fresh love relationship with Jesus, and their zeal!

When Elijah found Elisha, he threw his mantle or scarf over the younger man's shoulders. Although Elisha may not have understood the full significance of that calling in that very moment, he definitely knew it was a big turning point in his life. And when the time came for his mentor to leave the scene, Elisha would be ready (whether he felt ready or not) to step into his sandals and continue his work for God in Israel.

Over and over again through the years, I have found that God is not looking so much for ability as availability. Someone willing to step into the gap when they see a need in the church. People often ask me "how they can get into ministry." I feel like responding, "Just look around you!" Ministry opportunities are everywhere!

Elijah was calling Elisha to be what he had been through the years—a true follower of God. As I said, he was reproducing himself. And how would it go with Elisha? It wouldn't be easy! A rough road lay ahead of him. It wasn't easy being a spokesman for God in a nation that had turned its back on Him. In fact, he was certain to be hated and hounded by powerful people.

But Elisha was prepared. Why? Because Elijah had left a mighty legacy to his successor and friend.

What kind of legacy are you leaving today? Are you mentoring anyone? For that matter, do you have a life worth emulating?

No matter what time of day it is in our lives, these are questions every one of us should be asking ourselves.