“Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but do not light a fire underneath.’”

— 1 Kings 18:25

In the days of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, there was mass apostasy in the land. The people worshiped Baal instead of the true God. One day, Elijah called for a showdown on Mount Carmel between Baal and Jehovah. Elijah was one man versus 450 priests of Baal and 400 false prophets.

Elijah gathered the people and said, “How long will you stay between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21). Sadly, this compromising and equivocating spirit is still alive in the world today. How many there are who have one foot in the church and one foot in the world, and they cannot make up their mind whether to fully follow Christ or to fully seek for the things of the world.

The showdown involved two altars, both with sacrificed bullocks. One for Baal; the other for Jehovah. The priests of Baal went first. But as much as they prayed to him, called on him, and even cut themselves bloody, there was only silence from their god.

When it was Elijah’s turn, he ordered them to drench the sacrifice on the altar of Jehovah. Then Elijah looked to God in prayer to show Himself. Suddenly, the fire of God fell out of the heavens and consumed the sacrifice and consumed the stones of the altar and consumed the dust and consumed the very water itself. This was a victory for belief in the true God. He alone is the one we should worship and not any false gods.

Great Jehovah, God of all gods, we praise You that You alone are worthy of worship. You alone have made us. Forgive us for straying from the path. Help us to be hot for You and not equivocating between worldliness and godliness…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE FOLLOW HIM
AGAINST THE TIDE OF THE WORLD.