Elias Aslaksen

When Elias Aslaksen spoke, the friends mainly heard the voice of the driver. He was a wholehearted, burning, zealous man. He searched for truth—the very essence of truth—in ev­ery single matter that the Scriptures shed light on. His zeal and his tireless ardor for the truth enabled him to drive the church forward into the Spirit, water and blood, and into being conformed to Christ. There is no doubt that he led many to a righteous life. According to the Scriptures, his name will shine like the stars forever and ever. “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Dan. 12:3.

He was exceptionally humble; he went deeply down to ful­fill what his Lord and Master had planned for his life and to complete the work that God had given him. He was a brilliant man and in many ways a unique individual who could have attained great heights in this world. As a young cadet, the Navy already saw in him a future admiral. One colleague said of him that though he was perhaps a head shorter than most people, he towered a head above them in almost every disci­pline. He had a very willing attitude and, as a young man in the Navy, was described as “helpfulness personified.”

An extremely good fellowship developed between Johan O. Smith and Elias Aslaksen. They loved each other and they became tightly knit together in their work in the church through many years. It was a love that lasted all their lives. There was a flashing sword between them, but never a break in love.

Elias Aslaksen was a first-class minister of the Word. He used many examples of outward things to illuminate the in­ward. To many people, his preaching could seem legalistic, but that was absolutely not the case. I think brother Aslaksen must be one of the most misunderstood people we have had among us. Many followed the letter of his messages. They fol­lowed his views and wishes in outward things. They didn’t have enough love of the truth to understand that he was using examples to elaborate and clarify what the Word wanted to lead us into concerning the inner life. For instance, he would speak about vanity and use lots of examples. But many people did not follow him on the true, inner ways. They got caught up in an outward form and did not understand to walk on the inner ways and come to a hidden life with Christ in God. They probably ended up in a legalistic lifestyle because they weren’t free in their spirit to serve God according to His work­ing in their hearts.

On his last trip to Finland, I asked brother Aslaksen why he spoke that way. “It makes many people become legalistic, and then they don’t partake in the gospel,” I said. “I have never meant for others to act and do things exactly like me. That would be terrible; that would be ruling over other souls!”

“Yes, but when people have so much confidence in you, and you use so many examples of outward things when you speak, they will do what you say and follow you in the out­ward things,” I said.

Then he looked at me with sorrowful eyes and said, “Well, if they’re that stupid, then that’s their problem.”

When I heard Elias Aslaksen speak, I intuitively under­stood that there was a tremendous glory in all he said and did. Thus, for me he was a fountain of life, and I drank from this fountain eagerly. He spoke faith straight into my heart. I was born again during one of his messages; I received a power in my life that day that has been with me ever since. Among other things, that faith has driven thoughts of discouragement far from me, even during the greatest trials. On the contrary, I have had a powerful life-force in my inner man all my days, which has also led me to indescribable joy and happiness. I am so glad that I had such a preacher, and I consider him to be one of the very greatest men that the church has produced. I am looking forward unspeakably much to seeing him again and being together with him for all eternity.