Did it ever occur to you that only the authentic God can answer?  It occurred to me recently.

Since we are creatures who innately worship something; there are other things that are worshiped passionately, and worshiped sincerely. There are other deities that are revered, honored, prayed to, and made the center of our world.  There are also demons and angels that are worshiped.

Who is to tell, in this hodgepodge of deities, real and imagined, that are available to command our attention and worship, who is the real God?  Isn’t the true test whether they can answer?

Consider the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal.  Elijah found himself on a mountaintop along with 450 prophets of the god Baal.  All 451 of these men needed an answer to the question, who is God? 

So, there was a test.  All 451 of these men knew that the true God was the one who would answer.  First, the prophets of Baal “took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered.” (I Kings 18:26)

If you or I had been one of these prophets following Baal, it would have been a very discouraging day for us.  Not only did no one answer, but, in our trust that Baal would come through, we would have gone to punishing lengths to get him to pay attention.  Our efforts would have fallen on deaf ears, however.

“..and they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” I Kings 18:28,29.

The story in I Kings continues with Elijah rebuilding the altar of the LORD, preparing a burnt offering, and pouring water on it, twice, so that the water ran around the altar.

The LORD demonstrated that He would answer with a stunning, visible display of fire. The contest between the two contenders for the true God could not be considered fair or even. Both Baal and the LORD did not have an equal chance to win this contest.  Because, in this test, there was really only one real player.  Baal, in this account, was not real – so he could not answer.

Not only did Baal not have the power or the ability to answer, but he didn’t exist!

If push came to shove and you desperately needed an answer from your ‘higher power,’ or even from your ‘lesser powers,’ would you get it?  Many worship so blindly, not willing to face that they won’t get an answer from the things they trust in. And not even willing to try and prove it.  Because, to attempt to get an answer would expose what is false, and the truth –

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,  the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.  Psalm 115:3-5 

– might change you.  It did me.