1 Kings 18:21: "And Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." Such is the reality in the hearts of all men. Will God be God in the lives of his people? Or will other god(s) reign in his place. Such an offense is at the heart of spiritual unfaithfulness. We allow many other things have such a high place in our lives while we give only a nod, if any at all, the Creator of all things. In 1 Kings 18 we see the classic showdown between the prophets of Baal and the lone prophet of God, Elijah. Many times the man of God stands alone against the flooding torrents of popular opinions, and the currents of his time. Speaking from eternity, to souls bound to the earth, the man of God must speak. Here Elijah brings his challenge to God's own people Israel - make a choice, make the right choice...acknowledge the LORD as God and then follow. Such is a reasonable exhortation. Think for a minute. IF the LORD is God...IF he is the Sovereign of the world...IF he is the Creator of all things...IF he is the judge of the motives, intentions and thoughts of our hearts...IF he is the gracious, merciful, saving one...IF he possesses all wisdom, knowledge and is the fountain and essence of truth...if such things be true, IF the LORD is God, then only fools will not follow. How many times am I a fool, let not it be today Lord, not today, you are God. This passage is followed by a unique display of the power of God, manifesting in real space and time - a divine exhibition to settle this showdown between the false and the true. Although this type of event is unique in redemptive history (such is the case with all miracles) authenticating the message of Elijah, how often do we ignore the ever present speech and language of God in our midst. The Heavens declare!!! the Psalmist (Psalm 19) tells us. How often we ignore what even Kant declared he could not resist (Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and the more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above and the moral law within. 1788 - THE CRITIQUE OF PRACTICAL REASON by Immanuel Kant translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott) - The beauty of the created order of our world and the moral law written on our hearts demonstrates to all the reality of the divine author. Such witnesses, suppressed as they are by many, still beckon us, yes even puzzle us. In nature and conscience God does speak, yet only in Christ does he awaken. The imprint of God, lived out in space in time, incarnate glory, revealing to us God...He completes the picture and is the who, the what, the why of what we see each day. Only that our hearts would be captured, our wills submitted, and our loves awakened to the one who IS. After all, there is a showdown, there is a victor and the outcome is certain...If the Lord is God, follow Him. Out.

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