1st Kings 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.
This passage of scripture comes to us from the experience of Elijah as he faced some of the worst forms of idolatry and paganism that had infiltrated Israel under the withering rule and influence of Jezebel and Ahab. As the judgments of God deepened upon the land with very devastating consequences and many fatalities, Elijah appealed to the the intelligence of the Jews, for them to reason from cause to effect, and also to make the necessary changes in their choice of masters without delay, lest the entire nation be dragged down to the pit by the adversary of souls.
What had caused such a dire situation to obtain was a signal departure from the statutes and commandments of God, which are given for our best good and longevity. The leaders of the nation had led Israel into pagan worship, and their minds had become blinded by satan, to the point where they could no longer distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil. Elijah was sent with a stern message to them, asking each person to make up their minds about whom they wished to serve, either God or Baal who really represents the devil and all satanic agencies.
In order for satan to exercise his destructive power over individuals and nations, he first has to get us to sin against God in a deliberate manner, so that the protection of the God-head may be removed, and thus he be enabled to bring famine, disease, wars, and disasters of every kind, to wipe out of existence as many people as he possibly can. Many people are not aware of this fact and therefore when calamity and troubles come out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason, we are at a loss for explanations as to why such grave turmoils are afflicting us with no end or resolution in sight. We are not speaking of instances like Job who suffered on account of righteousness; we are speaking about calamities that are the direct result of a blatant violation of what God has plainly revealed. Let's read:
1st Kings 18:2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
This sentiment is also echoed in the solemn words of the prophet Isaiah who reiterates the fact that a willful and continual disregard of God's revealed will causes the earth and its inhabitants to be visited with harsh judgments, whether by God or by satan, because disobedience always carries consequences that affect the earth and individuals in very negative ways. Let's read:
Isaiah 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
The devil is a hard task master and after he has worked diligently and relentlessly to get us to sin against God, he then shows up for payment in the most brutal manner possible, for the wages of sin is death, and if it were not for the mercies of God he would drag millions of people down to ruin in a short space of time, and those who are thus slaughtered outside of Christ will also have to face divine retribution at the end of this world's history. God cannot continue to protect those are are deliberately living in sin and encouraging others to do so, and that's why He bids us choose between the two masters, between Christ and satan, and between good and evil.
In our day and in our own experience, it is very important for us to understand how the spiritual laws of cause and effect work, and it is even more essential to choose to serve The Good Master, even The Lord Jesus Christ, so that His righteousness may become ours, and so that we may be covered in the day of retribution. We therefore encourage everyone to be wise and to exercise wisdom by allowing Jesus to take full control of our lives, because serving God is not only the right thing to do, it is also the intelligent course of action for us to pursue. Let's read:
Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!