by Jeremy Sprouse ~ April 30th, 2008
Think of a time when you sprained your ankle or tore a muscle. Suddenly, tasks you didn’t think about before now take tremendous effort and pain (e.g., crossing a room, going up a flight of stairs, getting in and out of a car). For some the Christian life seems to be as difficult. They make a commitment to attend worship, but when Sunday morning comes, the task seems loathsome. They determine to read their Bibles every night, but are too tired when it is time. Why is it that so many make choose to take the name of Christ, but do not follow through by living the life? The problem is some Christians are lame.
In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah asks the Israelites: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” In his question, Elijah uses an ancient figure of speech most Bible translations have interpreted for us. Literally he is asking: “How long will you limp between two opinions?” It draws to mind a people torn between two masters. They would follow Baal until God showed them the consequences. Then they would limp back to God for a little while. Soon they would begin to long after Baal again and start limping towards him. Their life was a misery of limping between two masters. While limping between Baal and God, they could not devote themselves completely to God. They needed to make a choice.
Today, some Christians limp back and forth, refusing to make a choice. They want to serve God, but they never really give up their old ways of living. They stay up late on Saturday and are too tired to come to worship, much less Bible class in the morning. They slowly start to drift away. Then, all of a sudden they make a decision to be a better Christian. For a few days, weeks, even months their spiritual life improves—more prayer, more study, and better attendance. After awhile, however, they lose their fervor and start slowly drifting away again. This cycle repeats over and over and over again. How long, oh Christian, will you limp between two opinions?
If we want to be more than lame Christians we must devote our lives completely to God. This means attending worship even when we do not feel like it or are tired. It means taking the time to pray and study God’s word even when we think we have no time. Once we make the commitment and stick to it, Christian living will come easily. We will lose that limp and walk tall.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Great article! I just preached a sermon on Romans 6 and dying to sin. People believe they can go on sinning and still be a Christian. We have to make a commitment to God. We will either be slaves of sin or slaves of God. Slaves of God will worship Him, repect His word, learn His word, and walk in the light. Slaves of sin are spiritually dead, and it shows in their actions.