Before two computers can exchange any type of data, there has to be a connection. All our networking, live streaming, and online meetings require connectivity. If the connection is lost, there is no communication, and we are sitting in the dark wondering what went wrong and what to do next.
The other day our Wi-Fi system was down for some unknown reason. In the process of troubleshooting, our IT brother checked many possible points of failure. When he was testing one device, he commented that he had a very “solid connection to nowhere!” The plug-in was secure, solid, but the device he had plugged into was non-functioning, so at that point the communication failed. It went NOWHERE.
Isn’t that a lesson for our spiritual lives? Think of all the people in the world today who are trusting in something that isn’t there! A spirit? A man-made idea, a “god” that ISN’T. They are “saved.” They have friends who agree with them, and generations behind them who had the same false confidence. All a very solid connection to—nowhere. Their false confidence, false beliefs can’t do anything for them.
It happened with Israel. God didn’t plan it that way, but Israel was up against this many times because THEY rejected the connection. We can read it from the prophet Micah:
Micah 3:4 4…they will cry to the Lord, But He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, Because they have been evil in their deeds.
Isaiah saw it among the Israelites in his time. They were living in denial of the faith, and were acting abominably. How did God feel about the connection? He was ready to cut it completely.
Isaiah 1:14–15 14Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
And how about Elijah on Mount Carmel? It was a dramatic day. Those false prophets called all day to a god that didn’t exist!
Let’s read a little of the account – what a showdown it was!
1 Kings 18:22–26 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.
Elijah said, don’t do anything to help them out. Your gods should be able to show off their own connection! Elijah continued:
24Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
It was a fair test, fair troubleshooting. Show up the source!
25Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many;
Elijah said, You have LOTS of gods to help you!
and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!”
Elijah wanted Baal to have every possible opportunity to respond. He said in effect, Show him up; for what he is!!
So they called, and called, but…
But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
1 Kings 18:26–29 26So called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
Can’t you see Elijah standing back, watching all the goings on? And all the people watching too?
27And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
Elijah couldn’t resist making the most of the drama! Show up Baal for what he ISN’T!
It was a drama!
28So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29And when midday was past, they prophesied [that is, to speak by inspirations, as from their god] until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
Of course! It was a connection to NOWHERE!
Now it was Elijah’s turn to show the REAL connection to REAL power!
1 Kings 18:30–34 30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.
Elijah didn’t want ANY mistake!
35So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
You know the rest.
1 Kings 18:36–39 36And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” 38Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
What a showdown! What a drama!
We today have this SAME connection – to REAL POWER!
We pray to the God of Elijah! We KNOW the God of Elijah! And when Elijah returns? We want to be CONNECTED to HIS GOD!
We can read the prophet with fresh assurance:
Malachi 4:5–6 5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Let’s be sure we are READY when that day comes—it is coming soon!