I don't have a long drive to work, but as I drive I like to listen to music.  It lifts me up and creates a more worshipful atmosphere as I start my day.  Often the words are just background, even as I sing along mindlessly (being very watchful and cautious in my driving, however!).  On other occassions, a lyric or two leaps out and gets my attention.  This happened just the other day, when I knew the day would hold the potential of many distractions.

One of my favorite artists is David Crowder.  He penned these words, and as I listened that morning, they gave me reason to pause and consider my own situation:  "I'm so bored of little gods while standing on the edge of something large!  While standing here, so close to You we could be consumed.  What a glorious day!"

How often do I allow the 'little gods' of this world to attract and hold my attention? Gods that have no power, who cannot create and give life, who cannot offer a better life, let alone eternal life.  All the things of this world that scream out to me, "I am important!  I am what you want!"  Sometimes these little gods enthrall me.  I am engaged by their deceptive appeal.

In the meantime I am literally standing right next to 'something large!'  God, the Holy Creator, has offered to have a relationship with me!  He has done something no little god would ever consider - He sent His Son to live among humans, and to die with us.  But He raised Him up from the human grave to life once more, and then He promised me that I too could do the same thing.  I have the promise - a large thing, by the way - of life in the kingdom of God forever and ever.

Elijah found himself in a similar position.  He was surrounded by little gods and people who worshipped them.  The Baals, minor deities, ineffective in changing lives, held sway over many.  People were distracted by them, hoping for something that they could not offer.  At the same time they were on the edge of something big.  The God of Abraham and Isaac was in their neighborhood.

Elijah's God was up to the challenge that was thrown down.  The followers of Baal found their gods to be impotent.  They would not and could not respond to the worship and prayers of these men.  But Yahweh overpowered obstacles and sent down His fire to consume the sacrificial pyre.  And, as Crowder writes, "while standing so close to You we could be consumed."  Why did God not consume those who mocked Him?

God loves His created beings, and has continued to provide opportunities for us to turn to Him as we turn fom our little gods.  He has showed His great power and might.  He has showed His love and grace.  Crowder's chorus to this song says this:

How great Your love for us

How great our love for You

That grace could cover us

How great Your love...

I challenge you to take one day...just one day, and pause every time you encounter some 'little god' in your life.  Every day you and I meet many of those gods.  How we think, act, and speak reflects our devotion to some god or other.  The more we recognize these tiny, meaningless gods that have crept into our lives, the more we realize the absolute greatness of the 'large' God who longs for us to come to know Him.

Know that He can overcome any other 'god' that holds power over you.  Addiction, anger, lust, envy, greed, jealousy, or any number of little gods that trap us can be burned up in the fire of our gloroius God who  wants those things out of your life.  Stand close and watch Him work.  Let yourself be caught up in His 'largeness,' and His glory.  Let go of the little things that cannot help, but only hurt.  through it all, God promises to be with you, every step.  It may seem that you can't break free of those things - and you can't, on your own - but when you call down the power of Almighty God, anything is possible.  Don't be discouraged.  Be lifted up!  God's love for you is great!

(Oh, and if you'd like to see this story in action, turn to 1 Kings 18.)

Peace and grace to you in the name of the Lord.

Learn more about the ministry of Salem Evangelical Reformed Church online: www.salemhellers.com