Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” 2 Kings 3:11-12
In my own opioid addiction, I became quite liberal with my prescribing practices. It was the medical culture at the time – We were instructed to treat pain aggressively. But it was also that I wanted to be on opioids and so I wanted everyone else to have access to opioids as well. I didn’t realize this at the time, but later, in recovery, when I began working in treatment facilities and jails, I learned from others who’d been addicted to opioids that I had a reputation back then. Word got out that I was generous with my prescribing practices and so, those in the community who were looking for opioids knew to come to the ER to see me. I now despise that part of my story. I hate that this was my reputation and I hate that I contributed to the addiction of others. I can’t go back and change it though. I earned that bad reputation by my behavior and I can’t go back and alter history.
Our behavior defines us, and we earn our reputation based on our actions. This is illustrated in today’s passage, in which the kings of Israel and Judah combined forces to attack Moab. The two kings wanted to know if God was on their side, and so they sought a prophet. Someone suggested Elisha and King Jehoshaphat agreed, acknowledging that Elisha was a man of God. Elisha’s previous actions had earned him a reputation as knowing and doing God’s will and so, when the two kings also wanted to know God’s will, they sought Elisha.
I want that. I want to be known, not as someone who contributes to the addiction of others, but rather, as someone who seeks and does God’s will. Thankfully, I can change my behavior and thus change my reputation. In recovery now, as atonement for my previous bad behavior, I’d like to believe that I have earned a very different reputation. Now, those who’re struggling with addiction come to me, not to get opioids, but to get off them. Back then, I was defined by my own addiction. Now, I’d like to think that I’m defined by my faith and recovery. I can’t go back and change the past, undoing the history of bad reputation, but in following God instead of myself, I can change my behavior now, earning a very different – a good – reputation.