Day 21 — Choose!

“Then Elijah approached all 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 did not answer a word.”

— 1 Kings 18:21 (BSB)

Israel had turned away from God. A wicked king named Ahab and his wife Jezebel had led the people to worship a false god called Baal. Only a few people still followed the LORD. And one of them was the prophet Elijah.

Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to a showdown on Mount Carmel. Everyone would gather. The prophets of Baal would build an altar and put a sacrifice on it. Elijah would do the same. But nobody would light a fire. “The God who answers by fire, He is God.”

First, Elijah stood before all the people and asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.”

Waver means to go back and forth, like someone who can’t make up his mind. The people were trying to keep one foot with God and one foot with Baal. Elijah said, Choose!

And the people didn’t answer a word.

The prophets of Baal went first. They prayed and shouted all morning. They danced around the altar. Elijah teased them, telling them to shout louder, because maybe their god was asleep! But nothing happened.

Then it was Elijah’s turn. He rebuilt the altar of the LORD. He even had people pour water all over the sacrifice and the wood, so much that it filled a trench around the altar. Then Elijah prayed a simple prayer. And fire fell from heaven and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dirt and even the water!

When the people saw it, they fell on their faces and shouted, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

A lot of guys today try to live with one foot on each side. They want to follow Jesus at church, and then do whatever they want the rest of the week. They want to be Christians, but only when it’s easy or popular.

Elijah’s question is for you too: How long will you waver? If the Lord is God, and He is, then follow Him all the way.

Think about it: Are there areas of your life where you’re trying to keep “one foot on each side”?

Try this: Choose one area where you’ve been wavering, and make a clear decision to follow God in it. Tell someone you trust about your decision.

Dear God, You are the Lord, and You are God. I don’t want to waver between You and other things. Help me follow You all the way, with my whole life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.