Every hour of the day men and women are called upon to choose between constructive and destructive thinking, right and wrong action; and upon the right choice depend their happiness and well-being. The question of how one shall be sure that he is making a right decision in every instance is one which we may well consider thoughtfully and prayerfully.
In the wilderness Joshua called upon the children of Israel to choose between the false gods of the pagan people through whose country they had traveled and the true God, who had brought them forth out of Egyptian bondage. His words, so courageously spoken, ring down the ages, bringing help and comfort to all who read them understandingly. Said Joshua, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve;... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
When, at a later time, paganism was making great inroads upon the worship of the one God among the Hebrews, Elijah showed his people the fallacy of their apostasy. His method was as spectacular as it was bold. We are told in the eighteenth chapter of I Kings that he called upon the prophets of Baal to "choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under," but to call upon Baal to answer with fire as an evidence of his power. The account as given in the Bible is vivid and stirring. The prophets of Baal called upon their pagan god from morning until night without avail. When Elijah's turn came he built an altar of stone, arranged the wood in order, and placed his sacrifice thereon. Then he caused much water to be poured over the sacrifice, the wood, and the altar, until it would seem that no fire could possibly consume it. With a prayer that has lived through the centuries, he called upon God to prove to all people His presence and power. How dramatic as well as inspiring was the climax! Not only were the wood and the sacrifice burned, but the very stones of the altar were consumed!
