Pick a Side

So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

I Kings 18:20-21

Before Elijah called fire down from heaven on top of Mt. Carmel, he challenged the people to make a choice between God and Baal. In Hebrew, he literally accused them of "limping" between two opinions. That's an interesting image when you think about it. It's like a person trying to walk on crutches who can't decide which leg is their good leg. They don't know which leg they can trust to put their weight on, so they constantly switch legs causing them to walk haltingly or limpingly. 

Elijah challenges them to choose whether they will trust God or Baal. He looks out at a crowd of thousands of people and calls for a response, but no one said a thing.  It's really difficult for me to imagine thousands of people shrinking back in silence. Not a single person was willing to speak up and publicly declare their faith in God.

Sadly, I believe our world and even our churches are inching closer to this every day. It seems that nearly no one has the boldness or the faith to publicly declare their confidence in God anymore. We are so stuck between two worldviews that we're unable to make progress in either one. So many believers limp through life unsure if they want to trust God and walk by faith or trust the world and walk in materialism. Perhaps, Jesus said it best. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24).

How long will you waver between two opinions? Are you going to live for money, things, trips, and your own comfort? Or will you send a clear and confident message by your words and actions that you have full confidence in God and will walk by faith? Don't hobble along stuck between two opinions. God expects you to choose. Pick a side!