Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal. 1 Kings 19:18.

Elijah the Tishbite was a remarkable person, one of the greatest men in Old Testament times. He was a man of unusual vigor and force of character. He lived in difficult times when almost all Israel, led by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, had gone over to a deadly idolatry. By and through this one man, Elijah, God combated the evil and restored the true worship of God.

Jezebel took an oath to effect the prophet's death. Elijah fled for his life and hid in a cave. He declared himself before God as the only one left who worshiped Jehovah. In reply God told him that He had seven thousand who had remained true to Him.

In our day there is left a large number about whom the same could be said—those who maintain their integrity before God. There are hosts of young people who count not their lives dear unto themselves in order that they might "testify [to] the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

When the hosts of Midian came up to destroy Israel, Gideon had 32,000 men. God quickly reduced these to 300. God knew these few men would never quit. They would never comprornise. They would never retreat. They would go forward under God. With these few He overthrew the hosts of Midian. That is how God has always done it. God does not stress numbers. He calls for people who are prepared to stand regardless of what is happening around them.

Everywhere today people bow the knee to "Baal." Are we prepared to stand? God needs to know that. He needs to know whether we have joined the church with one foot in and one foot out. We cannot improve and advance the cause of God any faster than we can improve ourselves under God.

There are thousands of Christians today whose relationship to God is a dynamic force in the life. They speak boldly for Christ. They do not stand remote in ivory towers making formal pronouncements about the truth. They are real people prepared to witness anywhere for Christ.