Judges 6:31
“And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.”
One of the first things Gideon did when he began to lead Israel was to remove the altars of Baal. This removal did not sit well with those who were worshipping this idol. They came to Gideon’s father and wanted him to give them his son so they could kill him. Gideon’s father replied to these men, “Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him?…if he be a god, let him plead for himself…” Gideon’s father was simply saying that if Baal was such a great god, then they would not need to defend him for his works alone should defend him.
Many Christians are often put on the spot about what is wrong with something, when the question should be thrown back that if something is so great, then its works should be able to defend it. God has proven Himself to us, but why do we not make the world plead their god? If their god is god, then let them plead for themselves.
To plead for something is more than looking at the front end of something and seeing the facade of it. It is going behind the front door and seeing the end of what it brings. Certainly, if one would look at the front door of the party scene, one could come to the conclusion that they are missing out; however, when you go through the front door and let the party scene plead for itself, you will see that there is heartache and pain caused by this lifestyle.
Friend, I have given you one illustration, but we could fill pages going through the world’s lifestyle and seeing the heartache it brings. You may think you are missing out on something because a preacher is telling you not to do it, but let what the preacher is telling you not to do plead for itself. Don’t just look at the front end of something and say the preacher is wrong, instead look at the end result of what it brings. If the world’s lifestyle is so great, then they wouldn’t have to spend millions of dollars convincing you to do it, for its testimonies would plead for itself.
When the thought runs through your mind about what you are missing by not doing something, the best thing you can do is go on a spiritual field trip and see the whole picture. Look at the end of the lives of Baal’s lifestyle. Look at what Baal’s lifestyle does to families. Look at what Baal’s lifestyles does to one’s future. It is not just the wrapping of the package at which you need to look, but look on the inside of the package and see the heartache of Baal’s lifestyle. Stop trying to defend the world and let Baal plead for Baal.
I believe when you let Baal plead for Baal, you will discover that the one life truly worth living is the life of a Christian. Yes, there are struggles along the way, but living right and doing what the Scriptures teach has always produced joyous results. Stop complaining about what the Christian lifestyle is taking from you and look at what the Christian lifestyle gives to you. When comparing the Christian lifestyle to Baal’s, you will always come back and realize it is certainly great to live your life for Christ.