1 Kings 19:9–13

9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

When we go back a little in this story, we read that before Elijah fled to Mount Horeb, he had executed the prophets of Baal after seeing that the whole nation of Israel had turned away to serve foreign gods. But even after that great victory, he received word that Queen Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, was determined to destroy him as he had slain the prophets of Baal.

Remember, Jezebel was a cruel and ruthless woman who had already killed many of the Lord’s prophets in Israel. Those who survived lived hiding in caves all their days.

Therefore, the only solution Elijah saw was to run to the mountain of God — Mount Horeb — far away from Israel, to plead his case before the Lord. This was the same mountain where God had once spoken to the children of Israel, the same mountain where He called Moses and gave him the commandments and laws for Israel to keep all their lives. That mountain was known as the Holy Mountain of God, called Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb.

In Elijah’s reasoning, it seemed best to go to God in the same way Moses had — following the same pattern. That’s why we see that Elijah fasted for forty days and forty nights without eating or drinking anything, just as Moses did. He believed that there, God would speak to him as He had spoken to Moses — perhaps shaking the earth again and delivering Israel through great signs and judgments against the pagan gods of Baal, just as He had done in Egypt.

When Elijah finally reached the summit of Mount Sinai, he stayed there in one of the caves, waiting for God to speak. Indeed, the Lord came and spoke to him just as He had to Moses.

Then the voice of God came — not accompanied by any visible manifestation — and asked him:
“Elijah, what are you doing here?”

But Elijah did not understand, because his expectations were different. He expected God to speak through fire, thunder, wind, and earthquake — as He had done to Moses and the Israelites before.

After a while, the Lord said to him, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.”

Then the Lord passed by — and a mighty wind tore the rocks apart, then an earthquake, and then a fire, just as Elijah expected — the same way God had revealed Himself to Israel. But despite all these mighty signs and wonders, Elijah realized something was not right.

Finally, God spoke to him again — through a still small voice — and asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

That’s when Elijah recognized that it was indeed the voice of God speaking to him. Out of reverence and fear, he covered his face, something he hadn’t done the first time. He understood that God was not in the fire, nor in the earthquake, nor in the wind, nor in the cloud, nor in the lightning, nor in the pillar of fire or storm — but in the gentle whisper.

He realized that even the signs and wonders that Israel had witnessed in the wilderness were not proof of God’s constant presence among them. Those manifestations were only symbols meant to help them believe and prepare their hearts to hear God’s voice.

The true presence of God was in the still small voice — the voice that spoke through the Law given to Moses:

“Do not worship other gods.
Honor your father and mother.
Do not murder.
Do not steal,”
and so on.

Anyone who obeyed those words, even without witnessing miracles, would still have God’s presence within them — for they were heeding His still small voice.

But many Israelites saw the wind, the fire, the earthquakes, the parting of the sea, the water from the rock — yet never recognized the voice of God in their midst. They thought the miracles were the fullness of God Himself. As a result, most of them perished in the wilderness.

Likewise, in this New Covenant era, when the Church began, on the Day of Pentecost (which is our own Mount Sinai), God again manifested Himself through mighty signs among His chosen people.

Acts 2:1–4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Do you see that? On that day, fire came down, wind filled the place, and gifts began to manifest — people spoke in new tongues, prophesied, and miracles took place. Even the earth shook under the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:23–31).

Yet, God was not in the outward manifestations — He allowed them as signs to prepare the people’s hearts to hear His voice.

That’s why, when the people saw those wonders, they did not praise the wind or the fire, but asked Peter and the other apostles:

“Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

And Peter replied:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38.)

Notice — they did not say, “This fire is amazing! This wind is powerful!” No. They were convicted in their hearts. They heard the still small voice of God speaking through Peter — calling them to repentance, just as God’s gentle voice told Elijah:

“What are you doing here? Return!”

To “return” means to turn back — to repent.

In the same way, in these last days, many churches have become like those who seek only the manifestations — the miracles, prophecies, tongues, and deliverances — thinking that these are proof that God is among them. Yet Jesus warned:

Matthew 7:22–23
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

These are people who failed to hear the gentle voice of God that calls for repentance and holiness.

My brother, if today you think that speaking in tongues or working miracles is the ultimate sign of the Holy Spirit, while you ignore the still small voice telling you, “Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and turn away from sin,” then you have missed God’s true presence.

If messages of repentance and holiness no longer move you, and you only go to church seeking emotional experiences — wind, fire, excitement, and miracles — then you have not yet heard the still small voice of the Lord asking,

“What are you doing here? What are you doing in sin?”

What are you seeking in the house of God?
Is it miracles? Success? Healing? Prosperity? Marriage? Promotion?

If these are your only motives and you think God’s favor in these things proves His presence, you are deceived.

Jesus said plainly:

“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3.)

To be born again means to repent — to turn away from your old life: drunkenness, immorality, gossip, witchcraft, unforgiveness, hatred, envy, quarrels, filthy talk, worldly pleasures, immodest dressing, and the worship of idols.

After repentance comes baptism — the true baptism of water in the name of Jesus Christ — for the remission of sins. Then God Himself will give you the power of the Holy Spirit to live a victorious, holy life.

Today, the still small voice speaks again:

“Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14.)

Listen to the voice of God through His Word, not merely through miracles, dreams, or visions.

If you chase only signs, wonders, and prophecies, the same question will echo again:

“My child, what are you doing here?”
“I am not in those things — I am in the still small voice.”

And because that voice is gentle, it is easy to ignore.

May God grant us ears to hear His still small voice speaking through His Word — calling us to repentance and holiness. These are the last days; let us be watchful.

God bless you.

Man was created with two parts: body and spirit. Each side has its own way of being sustained, and its own way of perishing. Each has a way to receive life, and a way to die. For example, the physical body is sustained by physical food and water; and likewise it can be destroyed by physical means — if it lacks food or water, it dies; if it is burned by fire, it perishes.

In the same way, the spirit also exists in such a mode: to live it needs spiritual food, and spiritual water. If it lacks them, that spirit will die; likewise, if the spirit is consumed by spiritual fire, it dies too. But the fire of the body cannot destroy the spirit, because God created the nature of the body differently from that of the spirit.

If we return to Scripture, Christ came to redeem both: our bodies and our spirits, so that they might obtain eternal life. Because He came to redeem our spirits, He cannot use physical means to give our spirit eternal life. We must be given spiritual nourishment and spiritual water if our spirits are to live eternally. This is why He clearly said in:

John 6:35 “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

You see, the food and water spoken of there are not physical but spiritual.

Now, people who die today without being saved — immediately their spirits descend to a place called Hades (or Sheol), or “Hell” (Jehannem). That is the place where a person is kept temporarily, awaiting the final judgment of the Lamb.

We could say in modern language that it is like a prison or a lock-up, where someone waits to be brought to court, to hear the charges, and then serve a sentence of 10 years, 20 years, or life imprisonment. And that is how it is with Hell. That place is different from the lake of fire. The lake of fire comes only after the judgment of the Lamb, when each sinner will suffer according to the measure of his rebellion on Earth.

Consider also:

1. What is the “water of separation” in the Bible?
2. Does Zamzam water appear in the Bible?
3. What was the Peace Offering?
4. How does corruption (bribery) blind the eyes?
5. Buy the Water of Life
6. Were Kings Ahaziah and Asa brothers?
7. What happens after death?
8. The martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity
9. What is the Pride of Life? (1 John 2:16)
10. What is Tunguja in the Bible? (Genesis 30:14)

Remember, when the Lord stood in the midst of multitudes and raised His voice forcefully, telling people to come and drink the Water of Life, He was not joking or speaking trivial things. No, my brother, He fully knew there would come times when people’s spirits would cry and suffer, unable even to ask for a drop of that water. Listen to how Jesus cried out vigorously among the crowds at the feast:

John 7:37-38 “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’’”

Now remember, the benefit of that water is not just to give life to your spirit here on earth; no — it continues even after death. But those who refuse to drink that water now — when it is abundantly available and free — will one day, near death or after death, realize its value and frantically seek it. As their spirits go dying from lack of water, they will suffer indescribably in trying to obtain that Water of Life — and fail.

That is why Jesus told the parable of Lazarus:

Luke 16:19-31 (especially vv. 22-26)
“The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment…”
“…Between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who would pass from here to you cannot…”

From this account we clearly see that when a person dies, their spirit continues to live somewhere. The body remains in the grave, but the spirit lives onwards. And since the spirit cannot be consumed by ordinary fire, there is another fire — a spiritual fire — that the person senses in torment. Imagine that you are about to be hanged, and you know you have only minutes left — internally a fire burns within you, terrible and unexplainable, because you sense the punishment that consumes your life. That sensation is the spiritual fire, except in an extreme, indescribable degree, which comes after death. Eventually, after a brief time, you are cast into the lake of fire in eternal destruction. How will you feel that day? That spirit will suffer immensely, dear one. That is the fire which that rich man felt in Hades when he was bound in darkness.

Another thing we see tormenting that rich man in Hades was thirst. He had no longing for the water of this world — because his body was not there — but he longed for the Water of Life for his spirit. He wanted even a drop of that water to revive his spirit, but he could not get it. He desired a second chance to repent, to find life, but it was too late. He wished he could repent that very day he would be judged, or to join Christians, but the door was shut.

On earth, he had suppressed the thirst for life, because of his wealth. He believed that money and possessions could give him life instead of Jesus Christ. He was deceived by the wealth of his health, thinking his robust health would last, relying on good nutrition and many doctors — not seeking the One who gives life. He placed his hope in pleasures, comfort, wealth, friends, family, security — none of which can quench the spiritual thirst after death. He would only awaken to that in death, and cry out: “Give me a drop of the Water of Life!” You see how precious that water becomes after death… you will cry out for one drop, but fail.

You see people who after being told they have only one month to live — if they are not Christians — will suddenly frantically seek God. But during their full life, they rejected salvation. That is when the true thirst begins within them. Then you see them calling pastors, asking sermons, seeking prayers. But once death comes while they remain in sin, that thirst intensifies beyond description, and remorse will overtake them.

In Hell, Jesus also taught that there is a Worm — as we read in:

Mark 9:43-48
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off… where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. … And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…”
— about that place “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

If you examine those verses, you see that the “worm” is singular — meaning that all who are there will be tormented by that same one; the distress and anguish they endure will be alike. Who is that worm? We understand that worm to be the Remorse of Regret (i.e. the memory of one’s sins), which will gnaw continuously on every soul in Hell. These memories, each person will face: every person will remember the day they heard the gospel and rejected it; the day they scorned God’s work; the day they lived in sin while the Holy Spirit warned them. They will remember sermons they ignored, time they delayed repentance until death overtook them. They will say: “How could I have come to this place while time was still available? What use is my pride now? What good are my possessions that they cannot defend me? My friends and pleasures deceived me…” These regrets will torment them beyond description. You will realize you are of the offspring of the serpent, deceived by Satan, and your spirit will be consumed by these thoughts — devoured by remorse, as the worm feasts on the carcass.

Those regrets will reach a level where even your worst enemy would be unworthy to come to your place and commit the sins you did. That is why the rich man asked that his brothers might be warned, but was told: “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” (Luke 16:29-31) Today, some in Hell yearn that you never come there. Dear one, that place is not a destination you ever want to reach.

After a long time under that worm and fire, all the dead will be resurrected in their former bodies, and stand before the great white throne of judgment — the judgment of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 20:11-15) Jesus said:

John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth — those who did good to the resurrection of life, and those who did evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

All who were in Hades will be resurrected, wearing again their bodies they had on earth, so they can be judged and receive the due recompense for their deeds. Each person will be judged according to his works and the abundance of his sins. Scripture says each will have their own portion in the lake of fire. Because the lake is vast, each will suffer in his own place, burning both body and spirit with a fire fiercer than Hell itself. Knowing this, brothers, let us not be proud of being rich or scorn the Water of Life, because good health, wealth, family, or protection will one day depart. But thirst will remain — if you do not quench it now, you will never quench it later. Do not be deceived by this passing world; pride in your wealth or strength does not benefit without Christ.

And these are the words with which Lord Jesus ends in the Bible:

Revelation 22:16-17 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star. **And the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life without price.”

Repent, be baptized in water (in the proper name of Jesus Christ), and pursue holiness while time remains. May you be blessed.

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