Who doesn’t love a pleasant surprise? It is always a treat to discover that something is better off than it first appears. Usually, the pleasant surprise is possible because someone or something that is not in the limelight is quietly taking care of something others may have forgotten; like the mothers that are quietly teaching their children manners, or the citizens that are faithfully paying their taxes and obeying the laws that make all our lives better. Sometimes all the noise and propaganda swirling around us convinces us that the whole world has taken leave of common sense and common decency. How refreshing it is when someone discovers that not everyone has bought into the craziness.
Such was the case with the Jewish prophet Elijah, when he spoke up against the evil of his day. This brave believer challenged King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, and their godless administration to a contest that would prove who of them was serving the true, living God. Elijah’s prayers triggered a drought, brought fire down from heaven, and then caused it to rain. The king and queen’s god, Baal, was unresponsive. Elijah’s God was the clear winner!
Still, the stubborn king, queen and subjects refused to repent and live by God’s morals and values. As a result, Elijah entered a dark time in his life. He told God, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (I Kings 19:14 nlt) That is when God revealed to Elijah that there were seven thousand other Israelis that were still being faithful to Him. What a pleasant surprise!
There are people in our day who love God and His values. However, from all the “stuff” broadcast in the public square it might seem like most people think God is dead… like everyone is living for immediate gratification… or like peace and hope are ideals of the past. Thankfully, upon closer inspection, that does not seem to be the true state of the world – at least in our neck of the woods. In a recent interview on The Daily Signal, long-term pollster and New York Times bestselling author and speaker, Scott Rasmussen, said, “My favorite polling question every year is about New Year’s Eve. Most people are shocked to learn that more Americans pray than drink on New Year’s Eve. Now, that’s because a lot of Americans pray every day. It’s not because they’re out there just on that one day.”
What a pleasant surprise to discover that many Americans still pray every day. What a pleasant surprise to know that there are still many people who are reaching out to their loving God on a regular basis. It makes a person want to blow on those embers and see if we can’t bring that hope and love more to the center or our society. Maybe there are more people praying that we have imagined. That would be the most pleasant of surprises!