Illustration: I was reading the news this morning. This article broke my heart. It demonstrated—once again—how far some will go in order to murder babies:
Just as I penned in previous articles, we’re amidst some dark and troubling days because Leftists continue to literally scorch the earth. Spray paint buildings where Christians shelter and help and minister to moms; shatter windows with rocks; scatter graffiti threats of increased violence on other people’s property. It’s so revealing of the human heart.
Connection to Scripture: This morning I was reading one my favorite passages of Scripture. It is found in 1 Kings 18. Elijah is God’s prophet, God’s truth-teller. And Ahab is Israel’s wicked king, Satan’s tool.
The nation had sunk into idolatry. Child sacrifice was rampant; temple cult prostitution was rampant; false religion was rampant. It was, in short, just like our day. And yet, God had his prophet, his truth-teller.
But what is utterly revealing is how the evil calls the good evil. Ahab, a truly vile man, calls God’s man evil. Ahab calls Elijah the troublemaker.
When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” (1 Kings 18:17-19, ESV)
Question: Did you notice how Ahab accuses Elijah, the truth-teller, God’s prophet, of being the troublemaker? The wicked one accuses the good one of actually being the problem.
But Elijah didn’t back down. He knew who owned the cattle on a thousand hills. He knew who delivered a nation across a sea while Egypt’s armies drowned. He knew who made heaven and earth. He knew who raises nations up and brings them low.
The rest of 1 Kings 18 demonstrates what God did to reveal his nature, his holiness, his judgment, and his mercy for all who repent and flee to him in the gospel.
Takeaway: No matter how often I read 1 Kings 18, it’s like it was written about today. Mt. Carmel might as well be in Portland, Oregon. Or in Chicago. Or in San Francisco. Or in NYC. You see those who hate God literally burn down their nation and demand the ‘right’ to murder wombs. Yet in the next instant, they’ll scream for rights to mutilate their genitals and ingest pharmaceuticals and end up resembling something out of B-grade horror films. It’s ghastly. It is just like Israel under Ahab and Jezebel. It is, in short, demonic. It’s not accidental that demonic imagery pervades their violence.
Elijah’s question: And yet, God had his truth-teller. And Elijah asked a profound question: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21, ESV).
A great revealing is taking place right before your eyes.
Awake yet?
May we remember Elijah’s rhetorical question. And learn.
MIND & MATTERS 