All Means All

"I'm halfway in."

When was the last time you heard someone say that during a poker tournament?  Maybe you have, but we haven't.  The very sound of it seems wishy-washy and indecisive   And as they sometimes say in poker rooms, it's not good television.

No, the common phrase is to be all in.  In fact, we recently played in a tournament where the poker dealer pulled out an "all in" button to note the first player to push during a hand.  Every chip you have is at stake -- along with your future in the game.

Are you that way when it comes to other things in your life?  Do you live with an "all in" mentality?  Or are you like some players in other casino games -- and think it's more fun to straddle?

In one famous Biblical showdown, it was the God-fearing man who challenged people not to straddle:

So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.  Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. - I Kings 18:20-21

These were people from all over Israel (verse 19) -- and to borrow from cricket, they watched quite a one-day "test."  Read the entire chapter and you'll find the prophets of Baal tried to summon their god, but nothing happened.  Then Elijah called on his God, and fire dramatically came down from heaven.

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord - he is God!  The Lord - he is God!" - I Kings 18:39

There's nothing like a momentous miracle to turn people into believers.  But we need to keep faith toward God all the time -- even on ordinary or bad days.  That's when you're really "all in" with Him.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. - Revelation 3:15-16

The Bible shows Jesus said these words to a church, after His resurrection (verse 14).  You'd think church members would be all in for God.  But admittedly, sometimes lethargy can develop -- even with ministers:

Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. - II Timothy 1:6 (KJV)

You can ponder this idea some more by watching or reading an "all in" devotional.  It has part 1 and part 2.  And it might even get you thinking about how to use chip stacks, the next time you're tempted to push.