Are You Limping?

There is this great line that I had not seen before in the story about Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

It takes place in 1 Kings 18. Israel has split off from Judah and followed Jeroboam who decided he better make up a religion to keep his people from following Yahweh. It all went downhill from there and the people ended up worshiping and serving Baal.

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose God would answer and burn up the sacrifice. You probably know the story, but then here is this great line of Elijah in verse 21:

"How long will you go limping between two opinions?"

If you are having a hard time with faith and trust in Jesus Christ, it may be because you want the best the world has to offer but the guarantee of eternal life that God offers through Jesus. Baal offered immediate gratification, just like the world which says "grab for all the gusto you can because you only go around once in life."

The problem with holding on to what the world is telling you while also trying to hold on to Jesus is you can do neither well. Have you ever tried to walk on top of a fence? You need to jump in either direction, either with the world and abandon the Lord, or with the Lord and abandon getting the immediate gratification (but long term problems) that come with sin.

Stop limping and walk strongly towards the Lord Jesus! Elijah finished that sentence off this way:

"If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." What's your choice?

Pastor Tom