Turn Around

"So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. 'Man of God,' he begged, 'please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!' The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.' So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king."
2 Kings 1:13-15 (NIV)

Have you ever turned around in an elevator just because everyone else was facing the wrong way?

There's an old Candid Camera episode where hidden cameras film people in an elevator. When an unsuspecting person gets on, they naturally face the front. But then actors get on, all facing the back. Within seconds, the person turns around too, conforming to everyone else.

That's exactly what happened in ancient Israel. There were 7,000 people who loved God. But when evil reigned and idolatry spread, only one man refused to turn around. His name was Elijah and he shows us how to live the God life with boldness.

In 2 Kings chapter one, King Ahaziah sends fifty soldiers to arrest Elijah. They march up the hill and demand, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!'" Elijah responds, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you!" They go up in smoke.

The king sends another fifty. Same demand. Same result. One hundred men dead because they tried to pressure God's prophet to conform.

It’s confronting that 7,000 people in Israel loved God, but only one man stood for what was right and stood against what was wrong. Seven thousand loved God, but they didn't live the God life.

Living the God life today looks less dramatic but requires the same courage.

Your test won’t be calling fire down from heaven. It might be the family dinner when your uncle launches into his usual speech about how 'religion is just for weak people.’ You don't need to start World War III. Just say calmly, 'I see it differently, Uncle Mike' and pass the potatoes. Be kind, be loving, and be clear.

Friday night when your small group from church starts complaining about your pastor's sermon on a 'controversial topic,' resist the urge to pile on just to appease. Say something like, 'I actually thought he made some good points' and see who else quietly agrees with you. 

Don't be the 7,001st person who loves God but stays silent.

If you're going to live the God life while everybody else turns their back on truth, you've got to face the front, stand tall, and stand strong.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I've turned around to fit in when You called me to stand up. Give me grace to be humble before You and be bold before the world. Help me remember the way You stood up for me, in front of Your accusers, Jesus. Let me stand for what's right and against what's wrong, no matter who's watching. In Jesus' Name, Amen.