One of my favorite passages in the Bible is in 1 Kings chapter 18. During this time, the Israelites were continually forsaking the Lord and following after Baal. The prophet Elijah confronted the people of God and said “How long will you waiver between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”
Elijah drew a line in the sand, letting God’s people know that they couldn’t continue to play their little game of pursuing God when it was convenient for them. And so all the people agreed to a test to determine which God was true. They prepared two alters with wood and an offering, but did not light it with fire. Elijah would pray to Yahweh, and the prophets would pray to Baal and they decided “the God who answers with fire, he is God.”
One thing that really stands out to me in this story is the dedication of the prophets of Baal. Verse 26 says “they called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying ‘O Baal answer us!’ But there was no voice, and no one answered…And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them…but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” They gave everything they had for Baal. They were passionate, sincere and devoted. But they were wrong. They gave their entire lives to something that was false. When I read this passage I can’t help but think about the 45 million Burmese men and women who are doing the exact same thing right now in Myanmar. They are passionately pursuing a false religion. They are seeking fulfillment in something that will never satisfy. They are seeking salvation in something that can never save. And so we have the mission before us to take the gospel to these sweet, yet deceived people.
We have been invited back to Burma to partner with Pastor Ling Choi to do church leadership training and minister to orphans and children in the slums. We are asking you to be a part of this mission with us. Some of you can give, some of you need to go, and we need all of you to pray. How will you be a part?