Is Comfortable Christianity a Lie?

I think we mostly don’t so much want God — as comfort with a little bit of God on top. But when I think again at Elijah in 1 Kings 17–18, I don’t see comfort. Elijah shows up and shuts the sky. No rain, not even dew (which lasted several years). And why? Because Israel was again worshiping a false god, Baal, seeing it as their provider for rain, instead of recognising the Living God commands all.

So God did something radical: He cut off the source they trusted. God will cut off what you trust more than him.

Sometimes the drought in your life isn’t the enemy — it’s God.

That job, that relationship, that plan…If it’s taking God’s place, hey don’t be surprised when it dries up.

God Provides — But Not Always Comfortably

So as the drought started to really affect life, and the then Kings anger at Elijah, God sends Elijah to a safe-place to hide out with delivery food (via certain birds) near a brook for his source of water. Cool, right? Comfy - Until the brook dries up.

Now what? God sends him to a widow in famine, she had so little she even felt she would soon die — so Elijah is sent to someone who has almost nothing.

This isn’t comfort. This is faith under pressure. And God provides.

“The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry…” — 1 Kings 17:16

God didn’t give abundance up-front. He gave daily provision. Much like when the people of Israel wandered the desert; 40 years of daily portions of food. That’s how faith grows: Not in overflow — but in dependence. Faith in God is always rewarded.

And Dead Faith Gets Exposed

After time with the widow came to an end, we fast forward to Elijah's return to confront the King under God's orders, and to end the drought and bring rain. But to prove God Lives, Elijah gets the King to assemble the children of Israel, along with the false prophets, all 850 of them, with their fake god versus Elijah and the Living God. Sounds a mismatch but - You plus God is a majority.

No Fire = No God

Elijah sets the challenge: Whoever answers by fire — He is God. And Elijah doesn’t play nice. As the 850 false prophets cry out all day to their god for fire to fall and burn up the sacrifice offering, but nothing happens - at all. So Elijah mocks them:

“Maybe your god is asleep… maybe he’s busy…” — 1 Kings 18:27

So when they gave up, Elijah steps up for his turn. His sacrifice alter readied but he also super soaked the altar with water. Deliberately to show it an impossible situation. If fire begins, there's no way else to explain.

And then:

Fire falls from heaven.

Instant. Undeniable. Real.

You Can’t Follow God Halfway

After the fire, Elijah says something that hits hard:

“How long will you waver between two opinions?” — 1 Kings 18:21

That’s the question. How long are you going to:

• say you believe… but not live it

• wear faith… but not walk it

• claim God… but still follow the world

  
  

Faith isn’t neutral. You’re either all in — or you’re not. The fire didn’t just prove a point. It shifted everything:

• The people fell on their faces

• Truth was revealed

• Rain returned

  
  

When God shows up, things don’t stay the same. And maybe that’s what people are really afraid of. We like to be comfortable but we may pray for strength, and find God sends us into a challenge - to a get a work-out which builds strength. God is a living, responding, powerful God.

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Don’t just say it. Don’t just believe it. Live it. Wear it. Let God lead.