- No voice, no answer, no one paid attention …
In the grand scheme of things there is only one voice that answers from heaven. Only one light in the universe. Only one Person who pays attention to the joys and struggles of life on Planet Earth.
The prophets of Baal found this out centuries ago on a hillside in Israel. Their very lives depended on their god answering them from heaven and coming to their rescue.
- 1 Kings 18:29 (NCV)
The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention.
Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to a “bring the fire down from heaven” contest. The 450 prophets on the opposing team were having no effect; no response from heaven; the only sound that could be heard was their wails and screams as they cut themselves and tried to rouse a dead god.
Here is the great sadness. We all begin apart from Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 2:12 (ESV)
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Not so good … separated, alienated, strangers, no hope, without God in the world.
All alone. Even in a crowd. All alone in the universe. That is why we are lonely and do not hear the things we so desperately want and need to hear.
No voice, no one answering, no one paying attention …
That is where you are apart from Christ. Yes you communicate with family and friends, but in the big picture, as you yearn for answers that come from deep inside your being, nothing. And deep down, no matter how much we deny God and the truth of his word, we know this is a God problem. We know we are separated but in our blindness and darkness we still grapple for meaning and truth apart from God.
Just like the prophets of Baal. How frustrated, angry and disillusioned they must have been. They were being their religious best – for nothing.
The great hope in Jesus Christ: The voice of God speaks salvation!
But here is the opposite end of the spectrum that you will find through belief in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
In the “package” of eternal life you receive, one of the major benefits is that God is always there, always on call, always listening, always paying attention and working your life toward his ultimate perfection and glory.
- Ephesians 2:17–19 (NLT)
He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
Members of the family of God …
