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No One Paid Attention





Tonight, I'm reflecting on this morning's sermon at Frontline; it never fails to amaze me how God allows us to hear the right message at the exact right time.

Today's sermon was from 1 Kings in the Old Testament.  The pastor began by drawing comparisons to the stories in the Old Testament and our current lives, and how unfortunately, our lives look a lot more like those of the false prophets than we would care to admit.  Today's message was on 1 Kings Chapter 18 16-46- the story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel.

In this passage, Elijah was talking with followers of Baal, a false God popular with the Israelites at this time.  Elijah calls the people out on their wavering opinions on who they called their God.  Elijah stated "If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him".  Basically, Elijah is telling them to make up their minds and stop switching between the two.  They decide to put it to test and figure out who is truly God.  The followers of Baal create an alter and pray that Baal will light it on fire.  The day passes and big surprise- this false god Baal doesn't show.  Then, Elijah built and alter to the Lord, even pours water on it to prove a point, and prays to the Lord.  God shows up and lights that thing on fire!  All the people fell on their faces in submission to the one and only true Lord at this point.

So while we may not be worships a statue and asking this inanimate object to light things on fire, what are we putting too much of our focus and heart into?

What sin are we choosing over God and continuously repeating?

 What desire of our hearts are we placing so much above God's plan that we try and control?

 How many times do we go past the fellowship and community with those around us that God intends for us to have, and instead put an unhealthy amount of hope and trust into the relationships with other humans that we value them more than our relationship with Christ?

Worshiping false gods may look a little different today than a few thousand years ago, but it exists even so.

The verse that really got me this morning was 1 Kings 18: 29.  The followers of Baal began praying louder and harder to this false god.  Then the Bible states "But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention."

Ouch.

Imagine putting all your hope and trust into something or someone who can't even show up.

Maybe that's where that intense loneliness comes from.  When you feel like no one is answering.  No one is paying attention.

Maybe, we are listening to the wrong thing.  Seeking answers from the wrong person.  Putting all of our trust into something that legitimately can't show up.  We give the things of this world so much of our heart and mind that we stop listening to the One who ALWAYS can and WILL show up.  God doesn't leave us when we need Him; instead, He remains at our side even when we stop looking towards Him.

We let our hearts waver daily, but the One True God remains constant.

If the Lord is God, follow Him. (1 Kings 18:21)


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