Have you ever wrestled with two options? Both were viable, but the outcomes were completely different. No matter which one you chose, you knew your life would never be the same. How do you choose?
The Story: 1 Kings 18:1-16
In 1 Kings 18:1-16, a severe famine was in Samaria. God told Elijah to go see Ahab for rain was coming to the earth. While Elijah was on his way, Ahab and Obadiah were in search of green grass and a water supply to feed the horses and avoid killing them. To expand their efforts, they went in different directions on their quest.
While Obadiah was on his search, he ran into Elijah. He was excited to meet him because they both believed in God despite the idolatrous nature of Ahab and his wife. However, his excitement changed when Elijah asked him to tell Ahab that Obadiah found him. Immediately, the request created a conflict within Obadiah. He expressed his concern by asking what sin he committed for such a request. Ahab asked the people to swear that they didn’t know the whereabouts of Elijah. Furthermore, Obadiah wondered if he gave the message to Ahab would God would take Elijah to another place. Elijah addressed Obadiah’s concern by confirming that he wouldn’t go anywhere. Therefore, Obadiah left and relayed the message to Ahab.
The Lesson
Like Obadiah, we are torn between the two at times. We have a desire to help but don’t want harm. We want to move forward, but there’s an appeal to staying where we are. How do we choose between the competing pair?
In Philippians 1:21-30, Paul found himself in the same conundrum. He was torn between the two – to go and be with Christ or to remain. For Paul, he determined that it was essential for him to remain for the sake of others. He knew he had a larger assignment that exceeded his personal preference. Therefore, he decided that his remaining was the right choice. Because of his conviction, he could endure the challenges that lay ahead and continue to encourage others in the faith.
The same goes for us. We can choose based on the assignment of God. Which one testifies of Christ? Which one encourages others? Since both of our examples followed the way of Christ, we have the same opportunity. We can choose the option that leads us and others closer to Christ. The choice is ours. Regardless of what we choose, we will no longer be torn between the two.
