THE THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE: WHICH ONE ARE YOU?
There are three kinds of people in life: those who hear, those who see, and those who experience.
The first group are the people who hear. They hear about other people's achievements, breakthroughs, testimonies, and successes. They always know what God is doing in someone else's life, but they never move beyond hearing. They remain listeners, never participants. Then there are those who see. These people don't just hear the stories, they witness them. They can say, "I was there." They see miracles unfold, opportunities arise, and lives transformed. Yet even though they have a front-row seat, they remain spectators. Seeing alone is still not the same as experiencing. Finally, there are those who hear, see, and pursue. These are the people filled with determination. They don't settle for being observers. They don't simply admire what God is doing in someone else's life, they position themselves to be part of it. They desire to experience God's power for themselves. They refuse to remain spectators and instead become participants. This is the kind of person we ought to be.
It's good to hear. It's good to see. But it's even better to experience it for yourself. In 2 Kings 2, we read about the moment when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven. The events surrounding Elijah, Elisha, and the company of prophets reveal an important lesson. As Elijah travelled from Gilgal to Bethel, then to Jericho, and finally to the Jordan, he repeatedly told Elisha to stay behind. Yet every single time, Elisha refused. He said "As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you." Meanwhile, the sons of the prophets kept telling Elisha that Elijah would soon be taken away. They had the information. They knew what was happening. They heard about it. Later, fifty of those prophets even stood at a distance and watched Elijah strike the Jordan with his cloak, causing the waters to part. They saw the miracle, but only from afar. Elisha was different. He didn't settle for hearing about God's move. He didn't settle for watching it from a distance. He crossed over with Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-8).
When they reached the other side, Elijah asked him: "Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away." Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Because he remained faithful and refused to stop halfway, he received exactly what he desired. Had Elisha stopped at hearing, he would have missed the double portion. Had he stopped at watching from a distance, he would have remained just another spectator. Instead, he stayed close enough to receive. The Bible later says: "When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, 'Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha!' And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him." (2 Kings 2:15, NLT). In a single moment, Elisha went from being Elijah's servant to becoming the man others honoured. How powerful is that? Perhaps there are dreams, callings, ministries, businesses, careers, or opportunities that God has placed in your heart. Yet for months, or even years, you've only been hearing about others doing them. You've watched other people succeed while convincing yourself that your time will never come. Maybe it's time to stop watching from a distance. Maybe it's time to cross over.
Sometimes you simply have to step out in faith and take hold of what God has placed before you. Be brave enough to pursue it. Let people talk. Let them doubt if they choose to. Keep your eyes fixed on the greater prize. No one receives a medal simply because they watched someone else win one. And no one receives a promotion simply because they heard someone else was promoted. What have you heard about that stirs your heart? What have you seen that makes you think, "I wish that could be me" Don't remain a spectator. Be a participant. Be a go-getter for the things God has called you to.
As you take that step of faith, may the Lord strengthen you, guide you, and open doors no one can shut. May He position you for greater opportunities, greater influence, and greater impact. And may you move from simply hearing and seeing to fully experiencing all that God has prepared for you.
May God richly bless you as you step into bigger and greater platforms. Amen.
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