Thursday May 26th, 2016 1 Kings 18:20-39
Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." (verse 21)
Several years ago, I visited a life-long member of a congregation who confessed to me that death was all there was at the end, no resurrection, no eternal life, no hope. I was stunned by his assertion, thinking back over the decades of church involvement he had had. I wondered how he had missed the fullness of the gospel with all of the blessings he and his family had received. Try as I could to convince him otherwise, his faith stopped at his demise, after that, nothing. When he died, the sadness was doubled because he had chosen to reject God’s promise of eternal life assured through Jesus Christ.
Being a Christian is not a dead-end street. But many times we act as if choosing God’s way is contrary to our best interests, or sometimes profit. We make choices for someone or something else in our living, contrary to the intended relationship with the One who created, redeemed and sanctifies us. Choosing God for today and for our future will open us to our greatest potential, now and in eternity.
When our doubt shuts out your eternal blessings, Lord, raise us to believe again. Amen. — SO
Contributed by Choose a Side, Please
Several years ago, I visited a life-long member of a congregation who confessed to me that death was all there was at the end, no resurrection, no eternal life, no hope. I was stunned by his assertion, thinking back over the decades of church involvement he had had. I wondered how he had missed the fullness of the gospel with all of the blessings he and his family had received. Try as I could to convince him otherwise, his faith stopped at his demise, after that, nothing. When he died, the sadness was doubled because he had chosen to reject God's promise of eternal life assured through Jesus Christ.
Being a Christian is not a dead-end street. But many times we act as if choosing God's way is contrary to our best interests, or sometimes profit. We make choices for someone or something else in our living, contrary to the intended relationship with the One who created, redeemed and sanctifies us. Choosing God for today and for our future will open us to our greatest potential, now and in eternity.
