Divided We Fall
When I was a child, my brother was chasing me around a parking lot while I was barefooted. It was not a good combination. I almost sliced my big toe cutting it on the metal edging of a flower bed, and I almost lost my toe in the process. I had to be on crutches for over a month. During this experience, I realized one thing: I never wanted to be on crutches again. No matter what ailment I might encounter in the future, my wish was that I would never have to spend extensive time on crutches again. Crutches are annoying, they are burdensome, and they make simple tasks complicated.
In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah asks Israel, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions?” This word limping carries the illustration of someone hobbling between two branches or crutches. Israel was trying to combine the worship of the Lord and the worship of Baal. Under the leadership of Ahab, Israel had divided their allegiance to the Lord and worship Baal instead. When we compare this imagery to a couple of New Testament passages, we see a vast contrast.
Ephesians 6:13 and Hebrews 12:1 charge followers of Jesus to stand firm and throw off the weight and sin that clings to us. It charges us to run the race that is set before us. What a powerful reminder that it is impossible to follow Jesus if we are double-minded and our hearts are divided.
Through this story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, we see the Lord’s commitment always to keep His promises. What a great reminder! As the fire comes down and consumes the sacrifice and altar, we see that the Lord is the one TRUE God. The Lord remembers, the Lord speaks to his people, and the Lord is active! Amen. Have a blessed week, Calvary, and remember, your God goes before you.
