Are We Destined to Repeat the Past?
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1 Are We Destined to Repeat the Past? A Message for Christians “Smackdown” on Mount Carmel Elijah’s Statue at Mount Carmel, Israel Photo taken by David Richardson June 11, 2014 This paper is directed toward acknowledged and professed Christians, but nonbelievers can also benefit from the message. My hope is that you will become a believer. Then, acknowledge your weaknesses, and find solace in Christ. The account of Elijah on Mount Carmel is a story of encouragement in the face of insurmountable odds. Elijah’s experience of faith and stick-to-it-tiveness to the will of God occurred around twenty-nine centuries ago in a special place at a special time. The place looks unassuming, but the event that transpired on the plateau of the Mountain reverberates throughout the centuries. It was on Mount Carmel that Israel renewed its faith in a mighty God. It was on Mount Carmel that Israel realized the injustices that were perpetrated on God’s people and His prophets. It was on Mount Carmel that God’s people had to face their fears and make a decision between right and wrong. It was on Mount Carmel that Elijah displayed his greatest courage. We need an Elijah experience in order to fortify our courage, and to stand for the right regardless of world events, and to make the right decision to deal with all men and women equitably without prejudice to their “race, creed, or color.”
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This paper is directed toward acknowledged and professed Christians, but nonbelievers can also benefit from the message. My hope is that you will become a believer. Then, acknowledge your weaknesses, and find solace in Christ. The account of Elijah on Mount Carmel is a story of encouragement in the face of insurmountable odds. Elijah’s experience of faith and stick-to-it-tiveness to the will of God occurred around twenty-nine centuries ago in a special place at a special time. The place looks unassuming, but the event that transpired on the plateau of the Mountain reverberates throughout the centuries. It was on Mount Carmel that Israel renewed its faith in a mighty God. It was on Mount Carmel that Israel realized the injustices that were perpetrated on God’s people and His prophets. It was on Mount Carmel that God’s people had to face their fears and make a decision between right and wrong. It was on Mount Carmel that Elijah displayed his greatest courage.
Transcript of Are We Destined to Repeat the Past?
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AreWeDestinedtoRepeatthePast?AMessageforChristians
“Smackdown”onMountCarmel
Elijah’sStatueatMountCarmel,IsraelPhototakenbyDavidRichardsonJune11,2014
ThispaperisdirectedtowardacknowledgedandprofessedChristians,butnonbelieverscanalsobenefitfromthemessage.Myhopeisthatyouwillbecomeabeliever.Then,acknowledgeyourweaknesses,andfindsolaceinChrist.TheaccountofElijahonMountCarmelisastoryofencouragementinthefaceofinsurmountableodds.Elijah’sexperienceoffaithandstick-to-it-tivenesstothewillofGodoccurredaroundtwenty-ninecenturiesagoinaspecialplaceataspecialtime.Theplacelooksunassuming,buttheeventthattranspiredontheplateauoftheMountainreverberatesthroughoutthecenturies.ItwasonMountCarmelthatIsraelreneweditsfaithinamightyGod.ItwasonMountCarmelthatIsraelrealizedtheinjusticesthatwereperpetratedonGod’speopleandHisprophets.ItwasonMountCarmelthatGod’speoplehadtofacetheirfearsandmakeadecisionbetweenrightandwrong.ItwasonMountCarmelthatElijahdisplayedhisgreatestcourage.WeneedanElijahexperienceinordertofortifyourcourage,andtostandfortherightregardlessofworldevents,andtomaketherightdecisiontodealwithallmenandwomenequitablywithoutprejudicetotheir“race,creed,orcolor.”
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MountCarmel,Israel PhototakenbyDavidRichardsonJune11,2014PrejudiceandinjusticewererampantinIsraelduringElijah’stenureasaprophet.ThingsgotsobadforElijahthathehadtofleeforhislife.Hiscolleaguesweremurdered,becausetheystoodfirmfortheirbeliefs.Theywereexterminated,becauseoftheirfaithandbecausetheylookedandacteddifferently.Almost3,000yearslater,wearefacedwithsimilarproblemsofintoleranceandinjusticetowardothers.Whathavewelearnedsinceantiquity?Arewedestinedtofallintothesamepitfallsofprejudiceandinjusticeforthedurationofhumanexistence?Recently,IheardaboutanincidenceatafundamentalistChristiancollegelocatedinTennesseewhereafewwhitestudentsmadedisparagingremarksaboutBlackAmericansduringBlackHistorymonth.Thesestudentsallegedlyusedthe“N”wordduringconversationsontheanonymous“YikYak”gossipapp,andthoseconversationswerenotuniquetothatcollege.Howlongcanhumanityexistwithprejudiceandinjusticetowardourfellowbrothersandsisters?Atleast,onthesurface,itappearsasifournation,itspeoples,andourchurcheshavechangedtheirnegativeattitudestowardminorities,buttherearesomepeoplewhostillharborprejudiceintheirhearts.ThishasbecomeapparentduringtheRepublicanpresidentialcampaigns.OneRepublicanPresidentialAspirant’scampaignralliesencouragedviolencetowardminoritiesandpeoplewhocriticizedthecampaigns’platforms.ThissameAspiranthasmadedisparagingcommentstowardwomenandMoslems.Thisisthefirsttimeinthehistoryofournationthatoneofthefrontrunnerforthisnation’stoppoliticalpostissomeonewhoincitesriotsanddiscourse.It’sproblematicforapresidentialhopefultousewordslike“wecouldhaveriots”ifIam100delegatesshortofthenominationanddon’tgetit.Also,itispuzzlingtohaveabrilliantretiredsurgeonandaformerminoritypresidentialaspirantendorseanindividualwhoincitesviolence,encourageswallsofseparation,andespousesprejudicialbehavior.
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ThepeopleofthisnationneedtostandasElijahstoodalonewithhisfaithagainstthepriestsofBaal.Ahab,kingofIsraelfor22years,didmoreevilinthesightofGodthanthesixkingswhoprecededhim(1Kings16:25).Arewepositioningournationinasimilarmanner?AhabwasmarriedtoJezebelwholedtheIsraelitesintotheworshipofBaal.HeconstructedaltarsandworshippedBaal,andmadeAsherahpoles.HeprovokedGod’sangermorethananymanbeforehim(1kings16:31-32).AhabcalledElijah,theTishbite,a“troublerofIsrael,”becauseElijahdeclaredthat“AstheGodofIsrael,lives,whomIserve,therewillbeneitherdewnorraininthenextfewyearsexceptatmyword.”Iguess,bytoday’sstandards,Ahab’sactionscouldbecomparedtotwentiethcenturypersonageslikeJimJonesorDavidKoresh.Strongpersonalitieswhodirectedpeopledownthewrongpaths,andpointedpeopleawayfromGod.Thesepeopledistortedthetruth,ledpeopleintoidolatry,andencouragedpeopletomisunderstandandmisinterpretGod’sWord.ThesepeoplegaveGodabadname.Isournationheadeddownthesamepathway?
GodsentElijahtoAhabwithamessage,“YouhaveabandonedtheLord’scommands,andhavefollowedtheBaals(1Kings18:18).”AhabdiminishedGodandaccentuatedBaal.AhabrejectedGod’smessage,becausehethoughtthatElijahhad“toomuchGod,”but,inreality,Ahabandhisentouragehad“toolittleGod.”Isthatthecasewithournationtoday?WeliftouridolshighaboveGod.Idolslikecareers,money,property,andpersonalpossessions.Thereisnothingwrongwiththesethings,butwhentheyareaboveGod,thentheybecomeourgods…andGodsaid,“Thoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeme.”ThisisHisfirstcommandmentspokenbyHimandwrittenontabletsofstone.Likemanyofustoday,AhababandonedGodforworthlessgods!Isournationheadeddownthesamepathway?
WhenthepeoplereachedMountCarmel,Elijahaskedanimportantquestion,“Howlongwillyouwaiverbetweentwoopinions?“Thatquestionisrelevantforallofustoday!SomanypeopledonotknowwheretheystandwithGod,andtheiractionsofprejudiceandinjusticeareindicativeoftheirlostsouls.Theworldisrepletewithonegroupexhibitinginjusticesorunfairpracticestowardanothergroupofpeople.
Wedesiretoliveinarelativelycomfortableandsafeenvironment,buttherealityofworldeventsputsusinanuncomfortableandtenuousenvironmentwhetherweareinthecountryorwhetherwearetravelingoutsidethecountry.Itisamazinghowourpeaceandtranquilityhavebeendisrupted.Wearefacedwithissuesofstarvation,contaminateddrinkingwater,increasepoverty,downgradedlifestyles,andunknowndangersintheworkplace.Thecountryneedsaleaderwhocanaddressthesecriticalissuesaswellashavetheabilitytoamicablynegotiatewiththeleadersofdevelopedanddevelopingnations.
Itseemsliketheentireplanetisinastateoffear.ThisisaperfectconditionforencouragingpeopletobelievejustaboutanythingundertheguiseofChristianity!
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Lookaroundyourneighborhoods,andyouwillseethatpeoplearestandingonthefringesofhereticalbeliefsratherthanembracingthetruthsthatareclearlydelineatedintheBible.Onceweembracefalsehoods,thenwehavedifficultyfacingGod.GodsaidinExodus19:21“…chargethepeople,lesttheybreakthroughuntotheLordtogaze,andmanyofthemperish.”Theywouldperish,becauseintheirsinfulstates,theycouldnotlookupontheLordandlive.Withtherampantsinsoftheworldtoday,wecouldn’tlookuponthefaceoftheLordandlive.“Andhesaid,thoucanstnotseemyface:forthereshallnomanseeme,andlive(Exodus33:20).”ButChristisouridentifyingentity.HewastheGodwhowaswithIsraelandtheGodwhoidentifiedwithhumanity.Atestimonytothatfactcanbefoundin1Corinthians10:1-4,“ForIdonotwantyoutobeignorantofthefact,brothersandsisters,thatourancestorswereallunderthecloudandthattheyallpassedthroughthesea.TheywereallbaptizedintoMosesinthecloudandinthesea.Theyallatethesamespiritualfoodanddrankthesamespiritualdrink;fortheydrankfromthespiritualrockthataccompaniedthem,andthatrockwasChrist.”
IthinkifElijahwereheretoday,hewouldhaveplentytosayaboutourspiritualdecadenceandtheconditionoftheworld.HecertainlyhadplentytosaytoAhab,toIsrael,totheprophetsofBaal,andtotheprophetsofAsherah,becausetheymadeachoicetobreakGod’sfirstcommandmentwrittenwithHisfingerontabletsofstone.Exodus31:18“AndhegaveuntoMoses,whenhehadmadeanendofcommuningwithhimuponMountSinai,twotablesoftestimony,tablesofstone,writtenwiththefingerofGod.”Deut9:10“AndtheLORDdelivereduntometwotablesofstonewrittenwiththefingerofGod;andonthemwaswrittenaccordingtoallthewords,whichtheLORDspakewithyouinthemountoutofthemidstofthefireinthedayoftheassembly.”
AncientIsraelwaspopulatedwithwaveringpeoplewhowereeasilyinfluencedbytheirleader.SimilartotheancientIsrael,peopletodayarewaveringandeasilyinfluenced.Wearewanderers,wavers,andwobblers,becausewe“stumbleinthewaysoftheLord(Hosea14:9).”Unlikethecontemporarychurch,IsraelhadseenthedeliveranceofGod,buttheyhadfollowedthepathofleastresistancethatledtoidolworship.TheyfollowedJezebel’sgod,becausetheyhadwanderedsofarfromGod.Also,canitbesaidthatwearewanderingsofarfromGodthatwecannotseetheenlightenmentJesuspresentedinHissermononamountainoverlookingtheSeaofGallileeandCapernaum.Onthatmountain,Jesusblessedthespirituallyheartbroken,thosewhomourntheirlosses,themeek,thehungry,themerciful,thepureinheart,thepeacemakers,andthosepersecutedforrighteousness.So,howcanweimagineourselvestobeinoppositiontowhatJesuspreached?ArewedifferentfromthePhariseesorSadduceeswhoviolentlyopposedChrist?DowecrucifyChristanewbyourhatefulattitudesandactsofinjusticebecauseofthecolorofaman’sskin?
Elijahpresentstwooptions,”FollowGodorfollowSatan.”WehavethesameoptionstodaychoosefreedominChristorchoosedeathwithSatan.WhenIsraelheardElijah’soptions,thepeopleweresilent!Didtheyrealizethatthiswastheultimate
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“smackdown”betweenGodandBaal?So,theywatchedinaweasElijahchallengedthepriestsofBaalrightinGod’sVineyard-MountCarmel.Thiswasthefinalcountdown!TheIsraelitesaresummonedtotheMountaintomeetwithGod.Apparently,throughtheirsilence,they,atleast,madeadecisiontoobservewhatwouldtranspire.InadditiontothepeopleofIsrael,Elijahinvited850prophets(450prophetsofBaaland400prophetsofAsherah).Hesaystothem,“IamtheonlyoneoftheLord’sprophetsleft”inIsrael,becauseJezebelhadtheotherprophetskilled.Hesaid,“Gettwobullsforus.LetBaalsprophetschooseoneforthemselves,andletthemcutitintopiecesandputitonthewoodbutnotsetfireonit.”“Iwillpreparetheotherbullandputitonthewoodbutnotsetfiretoit.”“Thenyoucallonthenameofyourgod,andIwillcallonthenameoftheLORD.Thegodwhoanswersbyfire—heisGod…”ThestoryoftheprophetsofBaalendsindisappointment.Theycutthemselvesandtheyshout,butnothinghappens.“…theprophetElijahsteppedforwardandprayed:“LORD,theGodofAbraham,IsaacandIsrael,letitbeknowntodaythatyouareGodinIsraelandthatIamyourservantandhavedoneallthesethingsatyourcommand…”“ThenthefireoftheLORDfellandburnedupthesacrifice,thewood,thestonesandthesoil,andalsolickedupthewaterinthetrench.”Elijahproposedarelativelysimplechallenge-onethatYahwehcouldn’tresist…”thegodwhoanswersbyfire,heisGod.”AndHespokewithamightyfieryvoice…Histongueofflameslickeduptheentirewater-soakedsacrificeincludingthewood,thestones,thedust,andthewaterinthetrench.
Elijah’sexperiencecanbeourexperienceifwedonotbreaktherelationshipbetweenYeshuaandus?WecanstandstrongandconfidentwhenfacedwiththeevilsofBaalifwestayconnectedtothevaluesthatmadethisnationstrong.Butweneedtoaskseveralquestions.Isournationinspiritualdespair,andinneedofanElijahexperience?DoweneedtheHolySpirittoworkuponourheartsandallowustohavea“smackdown”sessionwithourmetaphoricalBaals?Israelsaid,“HeisourGod…HealoneisGod…LetusworshipandadorealivingGod,andworshiphimonly.Let’sthrowawayourBaals,andturnagaintotheLivingGod.Isthistheexperienceweneedinthisgreatnation?Doweneedtoreturntothevaluesthatbuiltthiscountry?“Donotletyourheartsbetroubled.YoubelieveinGod;believealsoinme.(John14:1)”LikethepeopleofIsrael,letusproclaim,“TheLORD,heistheGod…”Thisnationhaswanderedfarfromhome,butnowweneedtocomehome!“ThepathsofsintoolongWe’vetrod,Lord,We‘recominghome.Cominghome,Nevermoretoroam;OpenwideThinearmsoflove;Lord,We’recominghome.”Let’sgetbacktoourforeparents’Christianvalues.Menandwomenwithpurpose
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andhearthavemadeourcountrygreat.Thegreatestwantofournationnowis“men[andwomen]whowillnotbeboughtorsold;men[andwomen]whointheirinmostsoulsaretrueandhonest;men[andwomen]whodonotfeartocallsinbyitsrightname;men[andwomen]whoseconscienceisastruetodutyastheneedletothepole;men[andwomen]whowillstandfortherightthoughtheheavensfall.”Letthesevaluesre-establishedourgreatnation.Don’tletprejudicedirectourpathways,don’tletgreedandavaricebethepathwaystoourdestiny.Don’tletinjusticebeourmotivationforexistence.Don’tletourpathwayberedirectedtoaformerpathwayofdisgrace,degradation,anddestruction.Letnotourheartsbetroubled,ifwebelieveinGod,wewill“dotherightthing.”Let’sletgoofourprejudices,let’sletgoofourinjusticestowardothers,let’sletgoofunfairpracticestowardpeoplewhodon’tpracticeourreligionorwhodon’tlooklikeus,andletGodtakecontrol.Heavenisonlyobtainedbythepureinheart.Ifwedonotdropourvileprejudicialthoughtsagainstotherraces,ethnicities,religions,gender,visibledisabilities,poverty,sexualorientation,andnativism,thenourdestinyislimitedtothehereandnow,andthehereafterisnotinourfuture.Let’swalkthatingenuouspaththattreatsallcultures,ethnicities,andraceswithrespectanddignity.Let’snotpositionournationwherewewillbecomeanationthatturnsitsbackonjustice;thatembracesprejudicetowarditscitizens;thathasalackofconcernforthepoorandindigent;andespousesfaithlessvalues.
