Empty Gods(1 Kings 18:27-29)

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah

1 Kings 18:27-29
And 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." So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And it was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

Empty Gods
Ralph Barton was a successful cartoonist. But he chose to end his life, leaving a note that read: "I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes. I have gone from wife to wife, and from house to house, and visited great countries of the world; but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day." How tragic! Like Ralph Barton, when we place our faith in things that are empty, the consequences are severe.

The prophets of Baal discovered this as well. They were sincere to the point of frenzy in their worship, but to no avail. Elijah mocked them, but he also pointed out an important truth—nobody was home. There was no voice, no answer, no god to pay attention to their pleas. Their religion was empty. And ultimately it caused their death (v. 40).

Everything the world offers is likewise empty. The money, the fame, the "good times" cannot fill the void in our lives because they have no substance. They seem real when we casually observe them, but the moment the stresses of life hit, they dissolve like cotton candy. Eventually, they also lead to our death—eternal separation from the Father. Don't make the same mistake the prophets of Baal did; make sure that what you put first in your life is real.

Give thanks today that you can know that Jesus is real. His resurrection proves that there is substance to His claims. When you grasp Him, you never have to worry about coming up empty-handed. Latch onto the eternal; latch onto Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

If your life is empty, fill it with Christ.