Let Your Devotion Stand Strong
30 – “…he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.”
We look at the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal as an inspirational one; an example of God’s power, and subsequent judgment on some of His idolatrous children. The story of Elijah and prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is a famous one.
But when we look deeper, we find a story within a story: the story of an altar that was neglected. When Elijah climbed Carmel, he probably expected to see it. The nation of Israel was no doubt full of them. After all, Elijah said in the text that he was the only prophet of the LORD left. It would take more than one person to repair all the altars that were broken in Israel.
In spite of the circumstances, Elijah was victorious on the Mountain that day. God showed His power. Evil was defeated.
But soon after that “fireball on the mountain” experience, you’ll find Elijah in caves and under juniper trees wishing he was dead. Discouragement got to him. He kept thinking about that broken down altar that he had to fix. He thought he was the only one left. And even though he and God had won victories, the magnitude of the situation overwhelmed the great prophet.
Maybe sometimes we feel like we’re the only one(s) putting our all into living for God. Perhaps we feel alone in our level of devotion.
But as God soon revealed to Elijah, he was not the only true believer left. There were others who had not bowed to Baal, whose devotion to the LORD was as strong as ever.
Even though sometimes you may feel all alone, like no one else wants to be for real about God, know that there are others like you. When it seems like all your friends, (ones in and out of the Truth), are bowing down to things they don’t need to be around, fear not: you are not alone.
