Against the Tide - Elijah Pt.2

Ever feel like it's you against the world? Like the moon in a sky full of stars?
Different. Outnumbered. Alone.

Elijah felt the same.

If we flick to 1 Kings 18 v 16-46 in our Bibles, we can read a story about Elijah on Mount Carmel. Elijah was one of the Lord's prophets, but he was living at a time when Israel had abandoned the Lord's commands. The Israelites had instead, under the influence of their King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, turned to follow false gods. One of these false gods was called Baal. They set up shrines to worship Baal, and even had appointed prophets for this false god. Elijah even says “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left". He was different, outnumbered, and alone.

The one true God, the Lord of Israel, wasn't having any of it though. So God sends Elijah to Mount Carmel to meet King Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal, and to deliver a message. Elijah challenges them to a showdown to see who is the real god. Sounds exciting, right? Well it is, so go read the passage and see for yourselves what happens!

But let's for a minute, just focus on Elijah. Didn't he have some guts, some faith, to stand up for God like that? It gets you thinking... how do we stand up for Jesus in our own lives? Here's two points to consider:

1. Think different. Act different. If you read this story in 1 Kings 18, you'll see that the prophets of Baal and Elijah were very different. They believed in different gods, and as a result they acted in a different way. The prophets of Baal were cutting themselves over their sacrifice, while Elijah was pouring water over his to make the challenge even more difficult. Their logics were completely different. I think this is a key question to ask ourselves as followers of Jesus... In our families, with our friends, in school... Are we different from everyone else?

2. What's taken God's place in your life? I guess the second thing to think about is whether or not we're taking a stand for Jesus in our everyday life. Are we thinking differently, speaking differently, acting differently to those around us? If we aren't, then there's something wrong. King Ahab and the Israelites had replaced God with false gods, and perhaps something has taken God's place as first priority in our lives too. Studies? Addictions? Relationships?

Remember to follow the example of Elijah, and be different. 

Take a stand for Jesus.

“We must never be afraid to be a sign of contradiction for the world.” 

― Mother Teresa