Monday, December 31, 2012

Limping into 2013?

This morning I was reading in 1 Kings 18:20-20. It is the story of Elijah and his confrontation with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Elijah had called the King to assemble all the people of Israel at Mount Carmel for a decisive showdown with the false prophets and ultimately with the King and his treacherous wife Jezabel. Ahab is recorded as doing more "evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him"(16:30). That was a grand statement seeing that most of the Kings of Israel and Judah (except for Asa) had sinned against the Lord and followed the false gods of Baal and Asherah. And so the showdown was set.... Ahab gathered the people and the false prophets on Mt. Carmel.

In vs. 21, Elijah asked the people a question. And I think it is an appropriate question for all of us as we enter the new year. In the ESV translation, Elijah's question reads...

     "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow Him." 

The NIV and NLT translate the word "limping" (Hebrew- pasakh) as "waver". The Holman Christian Standard Bible and the New American Standard Bible as "hesitate". The New King James as "falter". All the English translations give the same implication: Following any other god except the God of the Bible leads to a improperly lived life. Just as the prophets of Baal were unable to move properly around the alter of Baal (vs. 26), so we to limp, hesitate, waver, and falter through life if we serve any god other than the Lord.

So, what gods are you serving? Are you "limping" along in your opinion of who you will worship? Do you claim Christ with your lips and deny Him with your lifestyle? Admittedly, I find myself, from time to time, in this position. As I allow the things of the world (selfishness, greed, pride, shame, etc...) to drive my attention inward, I find myself worshiping things that are convenient, breakable, and fleeting. I claim to be a follower of Christ, but chase after lesser things. And I find myself on Mt. Carmel again.

Elijah's question, therefore, throws in sharp relief the idea of a true disciple and those who are only such by name. May I paraphrase the prophet's words in the declarative? I think he was simply saying this: "Make up your mind! If you say you are serving either the Lord or these false gods, fine! Just do it! Stop limping along trying to please everyone! Choose who you will follow!"

So, we are confronted with a choice. Who will we serve in the new year? If you claim to be a Christ-follower, will you be just that? Will you strive to live as Jesus lived and obey what He asks you to do? Will you make up your mind (which is the essence of repentance) and choose to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33)? Will you make the declaration of Joshua (24:15 ESV) as he proclaimed, "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Will you cry out with the people of Israel, "The Lord, He is God; The Lord, He is God" (vs. 39)?

That is my declaration this New Year's Eve! Is it yours? If not, fine. But stop limping about. 

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