Searching for the Greatest… But Are They It?

2 Kings 2:9 

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.” 

The greatest. Who is the greatest? Or, maybe I need to reword it to sound more “hip” who is the “GOAT”?  When you hear that question as an athlete, I’m sure many names come to mind, such as: Jordan, Messi, Babe Ruth, Michael Phelps, Muhammad Ali, Usain Bolt, Bo Jackson, the list goes on and on. In the back of your mind, you might be wondering why someone’s name wasn’t listed or even having the James vs Jordan debate. Either way, the question remains... “Who is the greatest?” 

We all have a favorite player or even someone we admire for the athlete they are and the skills they possess. You see, as humans we do a lot of searching for someone or something to put value in. These people we value turn into more than athletes to us and we start to see them as a role model we want to be more like.  Before we know it, we start modeling our style of play after theirs, our looks and dress may start to resemble theirs, and we might even like them so much that we wish we could be them. If we aren’t careful, our identity can quickly become placed in a person who we don’t really know. Think back to the person you would call the greatest of all time. What character traits do they have? If their skills were taken away, would you still value them as a person?  

2 Kings 2:9 talks about Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was a mighty prophet of God. He did miraculous things for the people of Israel, turning them away from evil and back to God. Elijah had a faith and obedience to the Lord that was admirable. He worked miracles in God’s name, and he was passionate about the Lord which translated into everything he did. Elisha was also a mighty prophet of God and was known as a successor to Elijah. Elisha would follow Elijah around, being an eyewitness to his miraculous works. Before Elijah ascends to heaven he asks 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.” (2 Kings 2:9).  

Imagine being Elijah and hearing Elisha’s response. To have someone want your spirit poured onto them. Is this what we want from the athletes we admire when we say we wish we were them? Imagine if your wish were to come true. You wake up one day and you are your favorite athlete. Would you be satisfied with yourself? Would you like who you are? Chances are we don’t know the answers to those questions and if we do, we may not want to say. Maybe we should start searching to find role models like Elijah.  

Elijah was a man to be admired. A man after the Lord’s heart. He lived a life obedient to the Lord and that was enough for Elisha to admire. It was his character that made him admirable, not his fame and status in society. The reason he was GREAT was because the Lord called him that and that was enough for him. Elisha knew this about Elijah and that’s where his adoration for Elijah came. The Lord knew what he was doing with this relationship and his goal was to prepare Elisha to continue Elijah’s work.  

As an athlete you have an opportunity. As you know, you are in the spotlight with your sport. You are placed on a pedestal where a lot of eyes are on you. You have the opportunity to truly be one of the greatest in all aspects of your life. Being the greatest at what you do isn’t enough because what happens when what you do disappears? Do you have the characteristics of someone to still be great? 

The Lord has a purpose in placing you where you are. Whether your realm of influence is big or small, God wants to use you right where you are. Take a step of faith and lean into what the Lord is calling you to do. He has gotten you this far, maybe without you even knowing that He has been working all this time. Be the greatest athlete you can be but do it differently so that it wouldn’t be your greatness that shines through, but it would be the Lord’s. Imagine what the Lord could do if you surrendered your work to Him (Proverbs 16:3).