God and ________

Sometimes when I read the bible I get warm fuzzies. I feel encouraged by the love, grace, and patience of my God. Then there are times when I read the bible and feel like I've been smacked over the head with a 2 by 4. Its a good smack down, though. A necessary one, at least.

You see, I am a sinner. Every day I wake up tempted to believe that the world revolves around me and my happiness. Sometimes I don't need to be reminded that God loves me; I need to be reminded that it isn't all about me.

This morning I was reminded of this once again in 1 Kings. In this crazy awesome story in the Old Testament the prophet Elijah challenges King Ahab to a duel of sorts. King Ahab had wandered from following the I AM and was worshiping Baal.

And as though it were not enough to follow the example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. 1 Kings 16:31

Elijah speaks against this and as a result must run for his life. After a few years God instructs Elijah to go back to Ahab and offer an opportunity to prove himself. The offer goes like this: let us both build an alter with a sacrifice on top, and the god who is real will send fire down onto the sacrifice to burn it up.

Well, the prophets of Baal cried out and danced all day long, and as you could guess - nothing happened. Elijah had his alter drenched with water (to make it abundantly clear that this was the work of God), prayed to His Father, and immediately the entire alter was consumed in flames.

There was no mistaking the hand of God or the power of God here. But what convicted me and challenged me most this morning was Elijah's words to the Israelites. Before they began the sacrificial tournament Elijah went before them and said this:

"How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. 1 Kings 18:2

The Israelites had become divided in their hearts. They wanted to serve God and Baal at the same time. The bible is clear that we cannot serve God and another. He is the One and Only deity; the Holy Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Anything but whole-hearted and single minded devotion to Him is meaningless.

And yet, that is what we often offer, isn't it? We know that God is supposed to be enough - in fact, everything - but yet we still look to other things to fulfill us and give us meaning. I'd like to have God and money - you know, just to be comfortable. Or, I'd like to have God and popularity - because life was meant to be fun! Or, I'd like to have God and stuff - because stuff makes me feel important and valued.

Oh, it is easy to fall into the trap of making the Almighty One just one of our many gods. . . The Israelites fell into that pattern time and time again. And to this day we do the same.

My prayer is that a generation would rise up that is willing to give up all other gods and their empty promises. . . That a group of people would stand against the temptations and sales pitches of this world and trust in Jesus alone.

I have one question for you today. It might feel more like a 2 by 4 than a warm fuzzy, but sometimes we need a little smack in the head to adjust our perspective.

How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions?

If the Lord is God, follow Him.