July 20, 2007
Prophets of the Bible were people with whom it was probably rather difficult to get along. Many teachers and scholars paint the picture of such men as having rough personalities, not quite interested in being tactful or polite in even rudimentary ways. Maybe they’re right.
On the other hand, it may well be that such men weren’t especially coarse or ill-tempered, but were perhaps simply “speakers of truth” in an age when everyone was pretty much open to any lie that tickled their ears. The funny thing about truth, of course, is that no one objects to its being shared just as long as it’s aimed at someone else’s situation and away from our own.
It generally doesn’t even matter if the truth is the only thing standing between us and our own destruction; the path more readily taken is the one that most easily placates our pride and appeases our appetites. But there you are. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25 NIV).
So, when Elijah, for example, is sent by the Lord to confront the lie that you can follow God and still dabble in other religions and practices that God had expressly forbidden, it’s no wonder that he is accused of being a “troublemaker” (1 Kings 18:17).
“How long,” demands Elijah, “will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21 RSV).
All too clear is the fact of our own spiritual crippling today, as we limp from one false god to another, wavering between idols that are obvious and some that are perhaps a bit more subtle. And it seems all too likely that most folks don’t know enough of the Scriptures to be able to tell when they’re heading in the wrong direction or even just sitting on the fence!
On the one hand, we’ll say, “God is worthy of our worship.” On the other, we look to things to make us happy, successful, or give us a longed-for sense of purpose and worth. But when we do so, how can we say that we are loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and body (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27) and still climb hand-over-fist up the ladder of success? Or remain driven to win-at-all-costs at sports? Or strive to get as much money as possible? Or allow ungodly influences to come into our homes?
It doesn’t work that way. If other persons, other things, or other “gods” are what we should strive towards, then why bother with God at all? But if God is the One ON Whom we should set our affections, TO Whom we should turn for help and guidance, and FOR Whom we should live our lives, then why set above Him anything else? Why water down the best with phony promises for happiness?
Joshua exhorted the people that he had led for decades, “Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped… and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-15 NIV).
Such admonitions may sting a bit when you hear them, pricking your sense of propriety or causing ripples in your pools of placidity. But before you get mad, remember that God is in the business of truth and His truth both sets free and gives life. If there are things in your life that hinder your coming to know Him personally as Lord and Savior, then He wants to move them out of the way. If there are things there that limit your capacity to build up “treasures in heaven”, by enticing you with short-lived fancies of the flesh, He wants to boot those things out! If there are things that you’re tolerating in yourself or in your circumstances that somehow spoil the eternal fruit that could be reaped from your life in order to help bring others to Him, rest assured that He’d like enough elbow-room in your heart to prune those things back.
The truth might hurt, it might even hurt a lot, but the truth sets us free (see John 8:31-32). Just imagine people who have a disease, but prefer to deny the fact and run from the only remedy. This is exactly what we often do. What we NEED to do is to read God’s Word and learn God’s will. As we do so, and as He uses the truth of it to work in our lives, let’s not shy away from what He reveals to us. “The holy Scriptures (the Bible)… are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15b-17 NIV).
(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past twelve years. He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church, which meets on Sunday mornings at 455 Third Avenue. He may be reached for comments or questions by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).
