Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
October 7, 1984
Wavering
1 Kings 18:17-21, KJV
Tonight an estimated 75 million Americans will be watching the first Presidential debate of 1984. The 160 million Americans who have already made up their minds will be watching Dukes of Hazzard re-runs but the rest of us will tune-in to what will hopefully be an enlightening program.
One of the reasons the debates will be so closely watched is that so many American voters have trouble making up their minds. Up to forty percent of those who vote make up their mind in the last three days.
We hate to make decisions. Some decisions can be put off but there comes a day when you have to check one box or the other. In Elijah's day the nation of Israel had a decision to make. Earlier in Chapter 18 the prophet arranged a meeting with King Ahab and in verse 17 they finally confront each other. You can almost imagine them facing each other on the street, hands on their holsters. Ahab is the first to shoot. "So you're the troubler of Israel." Elijah fires back: "No, you're the trouble-maker, just like your father. You have turned away from God and followed Baal!"
In verse 18 Elijah sets up the great debate. On one side would be King Ahab and 850 false prophets. On the other would be Elijah. Since television hadn't been invented yet they waited a few days for the nation of Israel to gather around Mt. Carmel. It's a very impressive sight. The mountain is situated right by the Mediterranean Sea and has very steep cliffs. By standing on the plains below the people would have seen what happened on top of the mountain. When everyone was gathered together, Elijah sums up the problem: "How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him!" It was a momentous occasion. November 6, 900 BC. - One of those times in history when a decision has to be made. It's a difficult position to be in.
Most of us have plenty of reasons for being indecisive. One might be what I call calculated laziness. President Calvin Coolidge put it best when he said, "Decisions are like ten out-of-control cars coming directly at you. If you wait long enough, nine of them will end up in the ditch before they ever reach you." Decisions are always easier to make tomorrow but the tragedy of life is so often the tragedy of the missed opportunity. We feel moved to do some noble action, perhaps a word of sympathy or a thoughtful letter. There may be someone you've always intended to witness to but the moment passes and the thing is never done and the word is never spoken. Think about all the habits you were going to change, the weaknesses you wanted to correct. Your intentions were good but you never got around to doing them. In the best of us there is a certain laziness and inertia. Crucial opportunities in our lives are eternally lost because of it.
Another reason to be indecisive is the fear we'll make the wrong choice. This is especially true when the decision is a costly one. Back in August we had two weddings in this church. We also had all the exits to Johnson Avenue boarded up. You may have thought the boards were to keep people off the repair work but the grooms waiting in the nursery had other ideas. Choosing a wife, a job or a home can be so nerve-wracking that for some people a form of paralysis sets in. Even if they finally make a decision they always wonder what it would have been like if they had taken the other option.
Another reason to put off decisions is because of sin. We're so greedy we want to have our cake and eat it too. This was Israel's problem. Instead of making a clear-cut choice between religions they were having it both ways. Christians have been known to do the same thing. Turn in your Bible to James 1:5-8:
"If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God...but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering...a double minded man is unstable in all he does."
The people in Elijah's day weren't really combining Jehovah and Baal into a new religion. They were wavering from one to another. James says that when you waver back and forth like this you fail to get what you want. When it comes to matters about faith, indecision is basically a form of unbelief. Elijah knew that God had made some pretty clear demands on the people of Israel. His expectations should have been obvious. By wavering, they were really saying "no" to God.
The most important decision a person can make is their decision about Jesus Christ. The Bible says you should repent of your sins and accept Christ as your Savior, but like any decision, you can waver on it. Many people figure becoming a Christian is the kind of thing that is easier to do later. You may want to wait until you get married and settle down. It's even easier after you retire because temptation won't be what it used to be. However, some decisions can't be put off. Calvin Coolidge may have waited for the nine out-of-control cars to run into the ditch but that still left one to smack him in the face.
Sooner or later your decision about God is made. Why not decide for him, right now...
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Typed on December 8, 2005, by Sharon Lesko of Ledgewood Baptist Church, New Jersey
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