1 Kings:18:21
Elijah went before 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.’
Growing up in my mom’s ancestral home with just one television set for sixteen people was a heartbreaker. The big boys – my lolo, my uncles, plus my dad of course – and their sports channel reigned T-Th-F and Sundays. The big girls and their afternoon telenovelas were my other competition. Sometimes, they’d allow my cartoon network in between commercial breaks. It’s usually the time I’d pray hard they wouldn’t notice time. The frustration comes when both shows have their ads simultaneously and in our clicking channels every so often, one either missed a crucial peak or a momentous ending. At a young age, I’ve learned that peace and satisfaction only comes when one submits fully to the other. Since both couldn’t enjoy a half-show, I, then, bitterly accepted my Saturday lot. It may just be a day for me, but at least I have the tube all by myself.
When Elijah came face to face with Ahab and the northern kingdom, this was his opening statement: you cannot keep serving two gods. On one foot, these people submitted to the king and queen’s idolatry for it was trending and compulsory. Their other toe, however, was still clinging to their traditions and identity being seeds of Jacob. Elijah called them limps, or like birds hopping from one branch to another. They were mixing religions and in the process, pleasing none. God wouldn’t share seat with another. For there is no another. He wouldn’t accept half-hearted, half-devoted worship. For it wouldn’t be worship at all. Once and for all, Elijah called them for a decision. ‘Choose a God - not out of preference or popularity – but choose Him WHO IS God, then follow Him’.
Everyday, we come face to face with decisions and we hear voices left and right urging us that theirs is the best way in. We have our parents and their years of care; our peers and their utmost loyalty; our teachers and bosses with their professional counsel; the social media and their latest inputs; and, yes our resume and what experience taught us. But is there anyone with God-credentials there? Anybody able to bring fire from heaven? Our frustration in life comes because we depend on people who like us are imperfect and limited. We cannot expect them to fill our every need because they are not God. We all wished for a perfect mate: someone who’s there for us 24/7; who know us inside out and would love us unconditionally; a doctor would be ideal for health purposes, or a lawyer maybe, to defend us; better if that someone would go out with us in nature trips, or stay all night hearing our complaints and bitter cries; best if he’d grow old with us so we don’t have to be alone again. You can add up more to this list, and the longer it gets, the more impossible you’d ever find all in a single person. Because they are not God. He alone is able to do all, and much more. But He is a jealous God. He calls for total, complete, undivided devotion. He is either your Lord of all or not at all. Don’t allot Him your commercial break for He deserves a full show. No changing channels. No peeks in between. That’s for your peace and satisfaction. And everyone else’s :>
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