How Long Will You Hesitate Between Two Opinions?

Fork in the Road

Just before Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he issued a challenge to the people of Israel who had gathered to witness the event.

Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

The people were presented with a choice between two options – follow God or follow Baal. Similarly, we have choices to make about our personal conduct and religion. Many people like to think that they have a multitude of options from which to choose. But when you break down every decision, there are really just two options – follow God or not.

A Choice Between Two Opinions

For each of the questions below, man will claim that there are many different acceptable answers. But it all comes down to what is right and what is wrong. There may be many variations of what is wrong, but the fact that there are just two basic options remains.

What is truth? Many people will claim that truth is subjective and different for each person. They believe that truth is whatever an individual wants it to be. While there are many different teachings that man will call “truth,” there is only one truth – the word of God (John 17:17; Psalm 119:160). Paul wrote, “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar” (Romans 3:4). If man does not like what God has said, he does not get to pick something else to believe and that will also be true. We have a choice: accept and follow truth (God’s word) or error (anything contrary to God’s word).

What way leads to heaven? Many like to believe that there are a number of roads that all lead to heaven; therefore, we can choose whichever one seems best to us. However, the wise man warned: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). There is only one way to heaven – through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Peter said, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). If one rejects Christ, he rejects the only way that leads to heaven. We have a choice: follow the way of Christ to heaven or follow “the way [that] is broad that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13).

What must one do to be saved? Of those who believe that salvation is through Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), there are different opinions about what one must do to be saved – have faith only, pray a sinner’s prayer, be a good person, etc. But the plan of salvation taught in the Bible involves belief (John 8:24), repentance (Luke 13:3, 5), confession (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). We cannot expect for God to accept us if we reject His plan. We have a choice: to obey the gospel (believe, repent, confess, and be baptized) or not obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

What church is right? People are often told to join the church of their choice. When we look at the religious world, there are many different churches (denominations) from which to choose. Yet Jesus only promised to build one church (Matthew 16:18). Since the day of Pentecost, God added individuals to this church when they obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). Those who have been added by God to the church are to join together with other Christians in local churches – which Paul called “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) – to worship God according to His instructions (John 4:24); encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25); engage in the works of evangelism, edification, and limited benevolence (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:16; Acts 4:32-35; 11:29-30); and follow the pattern found in God’s word (2 Timothy 1:13; Colossians 3:17). The religious world is filled with man-made churches that do all sorts of things that are contrary to the law of Christ. We have a choice: be part of the Lord’s church or reject the Lord and His church.

How should we live? Many who profess to be Christians live more like the world than like Christ. Even during the first century, there were those in the church who believed that they could “continue in sin so that grace may increase” (Romans 6:1). They believed that God’s grace was a “license for immorality” (Jude 4, NIV); therefore, they could live any way they chose to live. But Christians are to be “dead to sin” and “alive to God” (Romans 6:11). We have been “freed from sin” and must now live as “slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). As disciples, we have an obligation to “observe all that [the Lord] commanded” (Matthew 28:20). We must “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7), following the sinless example of Christ (1 Peter 1:21-22). We have a choice: walk in light (obedience) or walk in darkness (sin).

We Must Choose

When Elijah challenged the people of Israel to choose between the Lord and Baal, they “did not answer him a word” (1 Kings 18:21). They did not want to commit to either option. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, we cannot simply refuse to give an answer. We must choose between following the way of God and following the way of the world.

In the end, our eternal fate will be one of two options – “eternal punishment” or “eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). The Lord will judge us (2 Corinthians 5:10), but we can choose which one will be our fate. If we want eternal life, we must believe and obey Christ (John 3:16; Hebrews 5:9). If we do not faithfully obey the Lord, we will be headed toward the other fate. If this is the direction you are going, it is time to change course now!


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