For some time now, the still small voice inside has been speaking to me about this Scripture:
1Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Every time I found myself churning inside, I would hear, How long halt ye between two opinions?
And that would always help me to choose Life
(see Choose Life (Part 1) and Choose Life (Part 2))
Yesterday I re-read the account of Elijah at Mt. Carmel (1Kings 18:16-40). After meditating upon it awhile, I realized that like every other story recounted in the Bible, this is our story (see What Is Your “Giant”?). I realized that the prophets of Baal represent our false beliefs about God which must be slain.
But because we are having a family gathering this weekend, I got caught up in preparations and went no further in my meditation. I had several phone calls about who was to come, how long they were to stay and where would they sleep, where and what we would eat, could a dog be brought into the house, etc., etc., etc. We made and changed plans several times before bedtime. It was finally settled that everyone would come on Saturday. Some would leave that day; others would stay the night. And we would not eat out as planned for the big birthday
meal since some people had to leave too early for that. I had decided that I would cook lasagna for the big meal on Saturday and serve it with a salad and homemade rolls. I had roast beef already cooked and in the freezer for sandwiches for a light meal that night. We’d buy ice cream for dessert.
I awakened this morning with that all too familiar knot
in my stomach and my head reeling. Perhaps someone didn’t like lasagna. I should probably make garlic bread. Maybe I should also have Parmesan chicken with the lasagna. I could make a pot of soup to go with the sandwiches. I really would like to make a chocolate pie and a coconut pie for dessert. Would the lasagna recipe be enough to feed that many people?
I finally got quiet enough inside to hear the Voice, Why halt ye between two opinions?
And then I clearly saw what the story of Elijah at Mt. Carmel was saying to me. I have heretofore read this story literally —by the letter— and have seen a God of wrath, one who judges and punishes. (See The “Letter” Kills) But I knew that now I must, like the disciples of Jesus before me, let the Christ in me open up my understanding that I might understand the scriptures
(Luke 24:45). I knew that I could now read this story by the Spirit, which tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood
but rather against the rulers of the darkness of this world
(Ephesians 6:12). I knew that this was not about a flesh and blood
conflict, but rather a conflict between the natural
and the spiritual
man.
1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I knew that Elijah represents my new man
or true identity who knows the true God
that Jesus prayed we would know (John 17:3), the God Elijah was referring to when he said, If the Lord be God, follow him
(1Kings 18:21), the God Jesus was referring to when He repeatedly said, Follow Me
(Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 16:24; 19:21; Mark 2:14; 10:21; John 10:27; 12:26; 21:19).
I knew that in this story Elijah, my true identity, is a prophet of the Lord
(1Kings 18:22) who knows that God knows what I need even before I ask (Matthew 6:8), that He answers even before I pray (Isaiah 65:24), that He performs that which is given me to do (Job 23:14), and that I receive whatsoever
I ask (John 14:13; 16:23) when I believe that I receive (Mark 11:23-24). I knew that in my true identity I have the mind of Christ
(1Corinthians 2:16), the same mind that was in Christ Jesus
(Philippians 2:5), the mind that has been renewed
(Romans 12:2) to the truth that
Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I also began to understand that the prophets of Baal represent my old man
(Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9), my flesh
(see Flesh), my carnal mind
which is enmity against God
(Romans 8:7). Baal is of course
2Corinthians 4:4 … the god of this world [who] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Because this carnal mind
has been blinded by the god of this world,
it never speaks truth to me. Like the prophets of Baal, the thoughts coming from this mind scream at me from morning till night (and night till morning), but no answer comes —just more confusion. These thoughts cut
through me like knives and lancets
until the blood gushes out
—the life
of God represented by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost
(Romans 14:17) seems to drain out of me.
But when I am operating out of that new man,
I can be as confident as Elijah was that the God who is love (1John 4:8,16) and is also a consuming fire
(Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Hebrews 12:29), the God from whose love I can never be separated (Romans 8:39) will enable me to just laugh and mock
those thoughts emanating from the carnal mind (1Kings 19:27), knowing that they are powerless when confronted with the mind of Christ.
They can scream all they want. But when the consuming fire
of God’s love envelops the sacrifice
that we are offering to God —presenting to him our bodies to express Himself through (Romans 12:1 … present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God), those thoughts are slain
(1Kings 18:40).
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin [the carnal mind].
Again I understood that I had a choice to make —life or death. I could continue listening to those prophets of Baal
and reap corruption
or I could move into the mind of Christ
and experience the life everlasting
(Galatians 6:8) that Jesus came to give us when we present our bodies to Him a living sacrifice
and let Him live His life through us.
In this instance, I realized that the thoughts of my carnal mind concerning the weekend came from the fleshly
desire to have everyone think that I’m a great cook. I was merely wanting to feed my ego and build myself up in the eyes of man. My mind was stayed
on the ways and means of accomplishing this. But it is only the mind stayed on God
that remains in perfect peace
because that mind is trusting in God (Isaiah 26:3), not in its own ability to perform.
So I will no longer halt between two opinions
; I will remain quiet inside and follow the instructions from the still small voice
as God says to me, This is the way; walk ye in it
(Isaiah 30:21), knowing that then the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep my heart and my mind
(Philippians 4:7).
Not only will I benefit from my choosing to follow God rather than Baal; everyone else at the family gathering will also experience the Life that comes from my choice. We see this in the story of Elijah. Initially, when Elijah told the people to choose between God and Baal, they answered him not a word
(1Kings 18:21). But when they experienced the consuming fire
of God’s love, they fell on their faces
before that love (v 39) —for love never fails
(1Corinthians 13:8).
Note: We had 12 people for lunch on Saturday. I have never been so relaxed or enjoyed the company so much before. Both the big meal (of lasagna, salad and rolls) and the entire weekend were big hits. I was tempted several times to follow the voice of reason; but God’s grace was indeed sufficient for me to stop halting between two opinions and follow the voice of the Spirit inside —which kept me in a place of peace. Everyone agreed that our time together was special and expressed the desire to do it again soon.