The Folly And Mischief Of Irresolution In Religion

Adapted From A Sermon By

Philip Doddridge

Elijah said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.

(1 Kings 18:21)

This morning, let us hear the heartfelt warnings of Philip Doddridge, in this sermon titled: The Folly And Mischief Of Irresolution In Religion.

The guiding scripture is 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.

And so let us consider something that should resonate with all Christians since it's a point we all ought to agree on. We keep being encouraged to give ourselves over to God, to offer our lives as living sacrifices, and to live in His presence as a people eager to follow Him. The reasons we have for this are compelling, and there's really no good counter-argument; you get moved, you make plans, you take some steps, but your commitment isn't wholehearted. Other interests and distractions pull you away, leading you to waver like an unreliable bow. You have vague intentions to get serious about your faith "someday," not fully committing yet; not entirely letting go either.

Recognizing this as a widespread and risky situation, let us seriously consider the foolishness and peril of being indecisive in our faith, or as it's put in our text 1 Kings 18:21, trying to serve both God and Baal simultaneously: Elijah said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.

Here's what led to this situation: King Ahab, deeply corrupt and known for his evil deeds, had reached a point where he not only allowed but enforced the worship of Baal, even making it law and harshly punishing those who followed the Lord. His ruthless queen, Jezebel, was involved in the bloodshed of the Lord's prophets. Most people went along with the popular idolatry of the time. However, because they had previously followed Jehovah, albeit incorrectly through the worship of Jeroboam's golden calves, they still held some respect for Him. The severe and prolonged famine, clearly a divine intervention, might have stirred some of them, making even the most indifferent or stubborn recognize God's hand.

This internal conflict likely caused some private attempts at reform among the people, though they were still prone to reverting to old ways, lacking the necessary zeal or bravery to resist the widespread idolatry and superstition. This was their state when Elijah, with his characteristic boldness, confronted them, challenging the followers of Baal to a public contest.

The outcome was dramatic: fire from the Lord consumed Elijah's offering, while the priests of Baal had been fruitlessly calling on their nonexistent god for hours.

We could draw many valuable lessons from this entire narrative, but for now, we will focus on the words initially quoted. It's clear that when people are stuck in indecision about dedicating themselves to God or chasing after various desires, they're essentially split between God and idols. So, it's perfectly applicable to use this text to say to us, "Listen, if this describes you, how long will you keep limping between two choices? Why keep hobbling along, hesitant to commit fully to either path? If you believe Jehovah is God, then serve Him. If you think Baal is the one, then serve him."

If the reasons for choosing faith are, as they indeed are, overwhelmingly convincing, then let those reasons guide your decision and make serving God the central focus of your life. But if you can honestly convince yourself, through your own reasoning and conscience, that a life of pleasure and worldly pursuit is the wiser path, then abandon religious thoughts completely and pursue that direction with full commitment. Don't praise what you won't follow or follow what you disapprove of. Instead, act with thoughtfulness and reason; carefully consider the arguments on each side, and then make a definitive choice based on where the evidence leads.

We will now,

I. Endeavor to expose the folly and mischief of irresolution in the great matters of religion; and then, II. Conclude with some practical insights.

I. In exposing the folly and mischief of irresolution in the great matters of religion,

My friends, God being my helper, I aim to present thoughts that will resonate deeply within your consciousness. Let these thoughts awaken and enlighten you!

I hope that this morning, a strong conviction will be instilled in any who are still uncertain, much like the Israelites who, when confronted with the truth, bowed in reverence, acknowledging, "The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God."

We don't have the power to perform miracles or call down fire from the heavens to prove our points, but we possess compelling arguments that should, ideally, illuminate even the most uninformed among us and touch even the most resistant of hearts.

I pray for a spiritual awakening among us, where the divine fire ignites your passion and dedication, transforming you into living sacrifices, wholly devoted and pleasing to God. Because, truly, what is asked of you is not only reasonable but essential for your spiritual journey.

Now the folly and madness of irresolution in matters of religion will clearly and fully appear, if you consider

A. The nature and circumstances of the affair which you are undetermined about, and

B. The consequences which will result from your continued irresolution.

A. Let me urge you to take a moment to really think about the situation you're unsure about.

Just understanding the details might be enough to show how illogical it is to keep wavering. Also, consider this: the decision isn't even complicated. It's been presented to you clearly and persuasively, yet many remain effectively stuck in indecision for ages.

1. The decision you're struggling with is actually very straightforward.

When we really dive into the specifics, it's baffling how people who consider themselves logical can't make up their minds. It almost feels like the Psalmist is speaking directly to such folks when he says, "Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?"{Psalm 94:8}

Imagine, if you will, someone spending weeks or perhaps even years trying to figure out whether the sun or a smartphone screen emits more light, or if a single pixel or the entire internet contains more information. Would you consider this person a great philosopher?

Now, consider this: if you pause and think about it, the choices you're making might be just as clear-cut. If we start from the premise that you acknowledge the existence of a Higher Power and the truth of the Bible, I will argue that your indecision in life's big questions mirrors the absurdity of the examples above. May divine grace fix this conviction in your minds.

You know there's a powerful and amazing Being who created everything, including you. He keeps you alive and supports your every moment. Even as I speak, your life and ability to think come from Him. Yet, instead of loving, serving, and dedicating yourself to Him, you're unsure whether to act like a good child or an enemy, or maybe even rebel against Him.

Just last night, He protected and gave you rest, and this morning, He provided for you. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the warmth you feel all come from Him. The sunlight you see, the beauty of nature, and the love from friends and family — all are gifts from Him.

So why hesitate about whether to live in thankfulness and duty to Him? Should you really question whether to follow the example of angels who serve Him joyfully?

You struggle to decide if aligning with this Being, who can control heaven and hell, is better than relying on your own limited strength. It's a clear choice, is it not?

You are in pursuit of happiness, and with all your rational capabilities at your disposal, you have yet to discern which form of pleasure holds greater value:

Is it the pleasure derived from the contemplation of the divine and experiencing divine love, from living a life of integrity, and from the anticipation of eternal joy? Or is it the transient satisfaction found in yielding to unruly desires and primal instincts, which diminish us to a status beneath even that of irrational creatures, and tarnish the nobility of our human nature?

You hold the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ descended from the heavens and offered His blood on the cross to secure salvation for fallen beings, elevating them to the prospect of eternal glory. Furthermore, you acknowledge Jesus as the eternal Son of God, within whom reside all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Despite this, you find yourself in a sad predicament, unable to decide whether the blessings He acquired at such great cost are worth your acceptance, or if they are more desirable than the fleeting pleasures of this fallen world, which He sought to redeem you from.

You recognize that He has demonstrated the utmost generosity and compassion towards you, shedding His blood to satisfy divine justice and to establish a basis for your hope and peace. Yet, you hesitate to decide whether to honor this act of grace by dedicating your life to His service, or conversely, to essentially reject Him anew through your deliberate refusal, thereby showing disdain for His sacrifice.

Once again, you are aware that, as certainly as you are currently alive, you will eventually face death; and upon leaving this physical body, you will enter the solemn presence of God, where your fate for an unchangeable eternity will be determined. Despite this knowledge, you remain undecided on whether it is prudent to take measures for securing eternal happiness or to conduct your life with any consideration for the afterlife where you will reside forever.

You understand that realms of immortal joy and splendor await those whom God has chosen, realms designed for the magnificent exhibition of His grandeur and love. However, after much contemplation, you find yourself unable to conclude whether it would be beneficial to prioritize these over the transient pleasures and sensory delights of this world, especially given the cost of embracing the yoke of religion—a yoke which any wise individual would willingly accept for its intrinsic value, and to which one would gladly sacrifice much more than mere sensual gratifications.

Conversely, you understand that there exist severe, enduring, and everlasting punishments reserved for those who rebelliously stand against God, a place of torment that the Almighty's breath, likened to a stream of brimstone, will ignite, showcasing His supreme power and wrath. Yet, you ponder whether it might be worthwhile to risk such a fate merely to indulge in fleeting amusements that will, in mere years, leave you decaying in the earth and potentially despairing in hell.

But please consider this: this is the wisdom, or rather the folly, of those not yet touched by grace. They not only claim the mantle of rationality but often portray themselves as paragons of prudence, strategic thinkers, or even philosophers. Nevertheless, their conduct suggests a glaring deficiency in basic discernment—unable to distinguish between the divine and the mundane, between embracing or dismissing the sacred teachings of the gospel, or choosing between the transient pleasures of earthly existence and the eternal bliss of divine communion.

They ponder whether to indulge in brief moments of worldly joy only to face perpetual torment, or to endure the mild rigors of a life governed by the dictates of reason and faith, thereby securing an eternity of purity, praise, and joy among the celestial beings. Indeed, the simplicity and clarity of this choice serve only to highlight the absurdity of their hesitation.

Reflect upon the fact that, as the matter at hand is evidently straightforward, it has been very powerfully presented and advocated for; moreover, as we consider the nature and circumstances of the affair which you are undetermined about,

2. You have been presented with the most favorable circumstances to bring this to a resolution.

Consider that many of the profound incentives for a life devoted to faith are so self-evident that the mere illumination of natural reason might suffice to lead one to acknowledge and honor them. Yet, in recognition of the innate dimness and obtuseness of human intellect, the Lord has provided a most gracious revelation of His essence, wherein both His expectations from us, and what we might in turn anticipate from Him, are described in the clearest and most compelling terms. He has communicated through His Gospel as well as His commandments, dispatching His messengers repeatedly to awaken your spirit. You have encountered these truths reiterated in sermons and texts, presented with such lucidity and vigor that scarcely any new perspective could be added. Still, you effectively remain undecided.

To complement the word of His scripture, God has also employed the language of His providence and His Spirit. Each blessing in our existence has conveyed the message, "Behold the benevolence and grace of your Creator; resolve henceforth not to misuse such a magnanimous ally." Conversely, every trial has spoken, "Experience firsthand the might of my force, and the frailty of your own; resolve to resist no longer, nor provoke such a formidable adversary." Let your conscience attest whether these external signs have not sometimes been accompanied by the internal dialogue of His Spirit, softly urging your soul today, while it is still today, to pay attention to His call, and not to harden your heart or reject divine guidance to your ultimate detriment.

Indeed, it markedly exacerbates your folly to linger in indecision on such a transparent matter, especially given the abundant opportunities you've had to know it, and the myriad urgent and solemn summons to heed it.

3. Consider how long you have continued in this irresolute state, in the midst of all these great advantages.

This thought, frequently echoed in sacred texts, prompts the question: How long will you, the naive, cherish your naivety? Similarly, in our text, it queries: How long will you vacillate between two opinions? One might presume that a week, or even a mere day, should suffice to decide whether the divine or the temporal is more worthy of pursuit; whether the fleeting pleasures of earthly life or the promise of eternal glory holds greater value. Yet, you have remained in this state of indecision, not merely for days or weeks, but for months and years, and, sadly, for some, decades.

It is conceivable that some of you were enlightened on these matters and experienced a degree of conviction perhaps ten, twenty, or even thirty or forty years ago, yet you have not reached a firm decision. You persist, essentially, in the same state of uncertainty you have been in all this time. Despite being surrounded by clear, convincing arguments, with the scriptures in your possession, God's providence unfolding before you, and indeed, the Spirit of God working to some extent within your heart, you have spent more time deliberating this straightforward matter than would be necessary to master the intricacies of foreign languages or the depths of complex sciences. Meanwhile, many born long after you have already acquired these skills.

The most evident truths, which are as clear as sunlight wherever one looks and have been reiterated to the point of exhaustion, remain unlearned by you. Each moment of hesitation, under such conditions, undoubtedly exacerbates the folly and the sinfulness of this indecision.

So far, then, for the arguments drawn from the essence and context of the matter in which you remain undecided. We go on,

B. To argue the folly of this irresolution from the consequences which do and may, indeed, and must accompany it.

This part will be divided into two primary components. Firstly, you cannot claim significant benefits from your indecision, and secondly, you expose yourself to the gravest of perils due to it. A brief outline will sufficiently confirm each of these claims. Carefully consider the evidence, and reflect deeply upon what counterarguments you might present.

1. It is a foolish thing to continue in this irresolute state, for you can expect no considerable advantage from it.

The conditions for reconciliation with God will not diminish in necessity nor become simpler with time; moreover, during this period of hesitation, you will not discover any tranquility or peace of mind.

i) The service of God and the care of your souls will not become less necessary in consequence of your delay.

You are now immortal creatures, hastening towards an immutable eternity, where your eternal joy or sorrow hinges upon the favor or displeasure of God. You have not yet decided whether to engage with this great concern. Should you persist in this state of indecision for another year, you will remain immortal, with God as your eternal Sovereign and Arbiter. Your duty towards religion will not diminish; on the contrary, the urgency of fulfilling this obligation will intensify as you progress on the path to eternity. Your obligation stems from the unchangeable essence and structure of existence, and as long as God reigns supreme and you exist as His creatures, you are bound to Him, or else face inevitable despair.

ii) Your irresolution can be no advantage to you, because God will not remove any of his demands, and they cannot grow any more easy to you than they now are.

He now demands that you turn away from your sins, place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and commit to following the comprehensive set of responsibilities outlined in His teachings. This has been the expectation since the gospel was first proclaimed, and it has been His expectation of you since your youth. Your refusal does not change this requirement; He will continue to insist, and your only path to mercy lies in compliance with these terms, or you will face perdition.

Countless souls have faced eternal ruin rather than have these laws overturned or the covenant altered; He will not hesitate to allow your ruin as well, regardless of your greatness, knowledge, or prestige, rather than compromise His principles for your salvation. What are you, or ten thousand others greater than you, that for your sake the world should be displaced, let alone the far more immutable foundations of divine justice, holiness, and truth be undermined? When will righteousness start to consort with unrighteousness, or light begin to mingle with darkness for your benefit?

God will not lessen His current expectations; do you harbor the folly to believe that through further procrastination you will overcome your reluctance to meet these demands? Can bad habits be vanquished through indulgence, or will the dwindling reserves of virtuous inclinations grow stronger by being suppressed? Will divine grace be more forthcoming through opposition, or guaranteed by persistent misuse? Consider whether past delays have indeed bettered your disposition towards religion, or if you find yourself less inclined to it now than in your youth, when your acquaintance with sin was less seasoned by experience.

Conscience, common sense, and reason would suggest otherwise, yet I suspect that deep within your heart lies a concealed notion, perhaps so cleverly masked that even you might not fully acknowledge it. The belief is that while religion won't become less necessary or easier with time, you might at least gain a temporary reprieve from its constraints, even though you'll eventually need to comply. You might think this delay will allow you to avoid some of the immediate efforts and sacrifices that turning to repentance and conversion would demand. Allow me, in response to this, to guide you, thirdly, in the reflection:

iii) That while you continue in this unsettled state, your minds can find no solid ease and composure, but must continue in a painful and disagreeable situation.

According to James, those who waver are like the waves of the sea, tossed by the wind, frothing and swelling, frequently crashing against shores and rocks. The true peace of mind that comes from a firm decision to fully follow the Lord is evidently absent in your current state of indecision. And this leads me to my main point: while you remain undecided, you will find little joy in a life of sin.

As long as these considerations remain active, it's clear your conscience isn't entirely hardened, and the Spirit of God hasn't completely abandoned you. Won't the admonitions of your conscience and the urgings of God's Spirit, still struggling against your corrupt desires, cause you constant discomfort?

Sinners, I ask you from your own experience, are you at ease now? Do you not feel troubled and vexed when the word is preached, particularly when the minister speaks directly and lovingly to you, setting your sin and your peril clearly before you? Even as I speak now, do you not feel as if you're bleeding internally? Does your heart not rebuke you, making it painful to hear these truths, to the point where you wish to be elsewhere?

This discomfort will recur repeatedly, and if life lasts, it will return time and again. Indeed, by God's grace, you will hear this reiterated. As long as I have a voice among you, I will raise it like a trumpet to sound the alarm, and when I can no longer speak, God will bring others to advocate the same cause, ensuring you face the same distress if grace or divine retribution does not alter your state.

Nor is your discomfort limited to public worship. Scriptures and other books that provoke thought and awakening will cross your path; death will manifest in the illnesses, departures, and funerals of others around you, and it will sometimes manifest within you through the ailments of your mortal body, which are harbingers of its end. These situations will jolt you. Even when you try to shut your eyes, the flashes of God's fiery sword will pierce through, striking your obscured senses with enough force to at least unsettle, if not reform, you. Thus, you will lose even the fleeting pleasure that more committed sinners might find in their misdeeds.

So, I can echo Elijah's words from our text: If Baal is God, then serve him. If you can justify to your reason and conscience the complete abandonment of all religious thought, it would be better to do so outright than to harbor these intermittent and superficial considerations of faith, which merely spoil your present tranquility, not to avert but to intensify your future suffering.

Surely these points have persuaded you that there is little to gain from indecision in this matter. We have clearly seen how foolish and harmful it is. And so alongside the previous argument, we can establish that—

2. You're putting yourself at an incredibly high risk with this indecision,

a risk so severe that no sensible person would take it, no matter how great the potential rewards might seem, even if they were vastly more than what a life of sin without repercussions could ever offer.

To make the point clear, carefully consider where this path will lead you. You'll find that if there's any chance God intends to show you mercy and love, He might lead you to make a decision through hardship. Alternatively, God might unleash His judgment, either by leaving you in a state of unyielding stubbornness or by suddenly ending your life. Either scenario would inevitably lead to your everlasting downfall.

i) If God has any thoughts of mercy and love towards you, it is very probable that he will bring you to a decision by some very painful method either in the operations of his providence or his grace.

It has often happened that when young people, raised with religious teachings and initially touched by faith, let those feelings fade and settle for anything less than a genuine commitment to God—which often manifests as indecision—if they ever do come back to God, it's usually through some intense ordeal or deep distress, either physically or emotionally. This might happen to you too.

You could get sick with a severe illness, lying in bed in agony, with your days filled with nothing but pain, giving you the time to reflect on the truths you're currently ignoring. Your worldly success might crumble, leaving you in need, much like the prodigal son, prompting a return to God out of desperation. Don't think your life is so secure that such hardship couldn't touch you.

God could also take away those you love most, leaving you to grieve while simultaneously facing His wrath. You might feel the full force of God's anger, where the terror of eternal damnation becomes a looming, horrifying reality, with Satan allowed to haunt you, making your life a living hell and turning you into a cautionary tale for others.

It's true, friends, that if these harsh measures save you from eternal damnation, there will ultimately be reason for great thanksgiving. But why push your loving Father to such harsh measures when He's ready to be kind to you, preferring to guide you gently with love? When you're under the weight of such woes, you'll likely regret not having learned your lesson more easily. However, who can guarantee that it will all end well? It is surely in the nature of things much more probable that,

ii) Your irresolution may end in your everlasting condemnation, as God may be provoked to give you up to hardness and impenitence of heart, or to cut you off by some stroke of immediate vengeance.

You may by your irresolution provoke God finally to withdraw his Spirit from you, and so to give you up to hardness and impenitence.

You're aware of how God spoke about the people of the ancient world, and what if He were to say something similar about you? "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever." And about the Israelites, after waiting for ages with patience and mercy, yet when they remained unchanged, He said, "Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. Let the one who is vile remain vile." Imagine if God were to say something so severe about you. You might not grasp how terrible that would be. From that point, you'd be set in stone under a curse, and it wouldn't matter much what opportunities or pleasures you had in life. Any attempts to soften your heart or wake you up would be like water hitting a rock, making no impact, only adding to your count, making the final judgment even harsher.

You have to admit that this could very well happen, and considering how you might have misused the opportunities for grace, you'd have to agree that God would be just if it did happen to you. Who knows but that this might already be the situation for some of us. There have been too many cases where people who once seemed promising have turned hard-hearted due to sin's deceit, and it is a terrible thing to think that they might already be cast aside by God.

Since we can't be sure that's the case, it's always the duty of ministers to warn again, and urging the young especially to observe those who seem like they might be examples of this, so they can learn from their mistakes and fear falling into the same trap of disbelief and unrepentance. Be afraid, you who are numb to the call of salvation, that this could be your fate; wake up and seek God's mercy.

3. But perhaps, if you go on in this irresolute state, God may resolve to cut you off immediately by the stroke of death, and so bring the whole matter to an end.

God has been patient with you for a long time, keeping you alive even though you've lived only to ignore and disdain Him. Who can say if His patience isn't nearly exhausted, if the hourglass hasn't run out, after which all His wrath might come down upon you, demolishing your hopes and comforts, leaving you in fiery destruction?

Who's to say that this very attempt I'm making to reach you might be the last chance, and the next time God addresses you, it might be with the roar of judgment? Can anyone here be certain they won't be in an eternal state before the next Sunday arrives? And if that were to happen, if you died as you've lived, where would that leave you?

Oh, my friend, it is awful to even consider it. God wouldn't hesitate for a moment to decide where you'd spend eternity. Imagine, while we might be gathered next time, you could be in hell, reflecting on these very arguments, which would be indelibly etched in your memory by the flames.

You might say, "Foolish me, that I couldn't decide until these fires made it clear! Could I not see that avoiding this horror was worth a few days of self-denial and some worldly discomfort, which I could have borne with wisdom and courage, even turning them into moments of joy and victory? Could I not see that the eternal bliss I've lost, now visible from an unreachable distance, was better than the fleeting pleasures of this life, now gone, leaving only the torment of memory to stoke these endless flames? If only God would give me one more chance! If only the precious time for reflection could be extended, even if just for a week, a day, an hour, a moment more! How eagerly would my soul seize it! But now it's gone—irrevocably gone; and here I am, with an eternity to spend in regret."

We might think this is what trifling sinners will say when they realize they're condemned, but in hell, these words would seem trivial compared to the reality there. I hope you never have to experience it firsthand, but understand that you're in danger of this every moment; while you dither between choices, you could fall into this abyss of destruction. If the fear of such an end doesn't show you the foolishness of procrastination and indecision, then concepts like folly, wisdom, danger, safety, happiness, and misery lose all meaning.

We are now done with this important argument, and surely most, or all of us, are in our consciences convinced that the conclusion is unanswerably strong. It only remains that,

II. We conclude with two practical insights.

Those who are uncertain should keep in mind that after this sermon, their condition has become even more pressing. On the other hand, let those who have already made their commitments to their faith take delight in revisiting these decisions, and with the aid of divine grace, strengthen their resolve with greater enthusiasm.

1. Let the irresolute remember, that in consequence of this sermon, their affairs are grown more urgent than before.

It is a sad reflection that in the modern church, public gatherings have largely become nothing more than entertainment. It's as if the focus has shifted from spiritual growth to who can dress the most stylishly and who can deliver the most captivating sermon. But this entirely misses the point of these sacred gatherings.

Friends, the critical question today is not about style or eloquence, but about your commitment: Are you going to remain indecisive, caught between devotion to God and the distractions that pull your heart away? Your pressing task is to reflect on and decide this.

The way the message is delivered, the language or the attire, these are trivial. The real issue is whether the foolishness and harm of indecision have been exposed. I've offered several arguments—what part of them doesn't hold up? Challenge these points. Bring your doubts to a pastor or a fellow Christian for discussion, even if you think it might seem silly or pointless.

Imagine a book titled "The Virtues of Indecision in Christian Practice" - it would sound as absurd as promoting the joy of pain. Yet, by your actions, you treat indecision as rational, allowing folly to overshadow what scripture and reason advocate against.

Please, consider this: God is here with us now. He's listening to my words and witnessing your inner thoughts. He's also observing the countless others who, just like you, left a place of worship with the same uncertainty, only to find themselves in despair shortly after. Will you follow this awful path? Let your conscience be the judge, not just against my words, but against yourself. With each opportunity like this, your peril grows if you don't use it to safeguard your soul.

However, should you choose to misuse this divine opportunity, turning a remedy into poison, I will find some solace knowing that I've done my duty in His name, speaking with sincerity, not betraying your souls through silence or lack of fervor.

2. Let those who are, by Divine Grace, determined for God, reflect on their resolutions with pleasure and thankfulness, and renew them with increasing vigor.

Once upon a time, you too were caught in the folly and peril of a conflicted mindset. Now, as you look back on it, shouldn't you wonder: Why am I still not like that? There are countless others stuck in the same predicament, perhaps even more talented or knowledgeable than us. We knew these truths intellectually long before they truly sank into our hearts. So what changed?

We should each recognize and give thanks for the grace that finally tipped the balance finally setting things right, where we had been wrongly equating the trivial with the eternal.

Without that grace, divine retribution might have already come for us, our own lives potentially sacrificed to the very idols that incited God's jealousy for so long.

By divine grace, our hearts now lean towards God, but don't we often find ourselves sidetracked or slowed down in our journey towards Him? Even if we've torn down the shrines to false gods, isn't there a part of us that still clings to the remnants of the past?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, let this be a call to action: with wholehearted resolve, cling to the Lord. If indeed the Lord is God, then let's serve Him. Today, let's reaffirm our complete dedication to Him, and every day let us declare to Him, "You are our Lord." Like Caleb and Joshua, let's commit to following Him completely, unswayed by the world's deceptive allure or its threats.

Now, may the God who has summoned you to His eternal glory through Christ Jesus, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. This so you not only persevere to the end to gain the salvation of your souls, but also advance with vigor and eagerness in this sacred path. Let's commit to growing in every virtue and grace, so that you might be granted a triumphant entry into His heavenly kingdom.

There, the influence of Baal will no longer tempt or trouble you; instead, you'll stand firm like pillars in the temple of God, forever in the company of countless faithful and loving servants.