Former Blackout Artist

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
~ Mark 8:36

Ahab was considered the worst king ever in Israel’s history. 1st Kings 16:30 tells us so: “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” He repeatedly disobeyed God, but most egregiously – he worshipped Baal.

The prophet Elijah challenged the people of Israel to take a stand – to follow whoever was the true God. After summoning the prophets to assemble on Mount Carmel, Elijah asked them, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) 

Many Christians are faced with the same challenges today that the Israelites faced back in Elijah’s time. They want the best of both worlds. They want eternal salvation, but they also want to live the way society tells them that it’s okay to live, or that it’s okay to ignore sin outright to avoid the risk of appearing intolerant and unloving. 

Jesus tells us in Mark 8:36 that not only is this attitude impossible, but that it leads to eternal death. He says it again in Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and dispise the other.”

It is human instinct to want the world to speak well of us, but it is truly a selfish, misguided endeavor that proves eternally costly. For we cannot seek admiration from the world and still claim our adoration of Christ.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2