Today, I’m going to start a new series of Articles focusing on 6 words that you may see as pretty ordinary but that I see as ‘Amazing‘.

They are words that we use, read and write all the time.  My husband and I have been listening to 3 chapters of the Bible read each morning as we begin our day.  In doing so, I’ve begun to circle, underline and recognize these words as the title says are truly “Special, Powerful, Enlightening and Important.”

Some months ago, I led a Bible Study where we spent a few weeks just looking at the word ‘IF’ and the implied or stated ‘THEN’. So that’s where I’d like to begin today.

Let’s consider how IF affects our lives from when we’re very little until today as we face a trying chaotic situation in our Country and in our world.

I remember lots of times when I’d hear my parents say things like: (some implying promises and some warnings)

  •  if you go to sleep, like a good girl (then) Santa will be coming soon.
  • if you eat all your vegetables, (then) you can have ice cream for dessert
  • if you bring home a good report card, (then) there will be a special surprise
  • if you do that again, (then) you’ll be sorry
  • if you don’t tell the truth, (then) your nose will grow
  • if you don’t clean up your room, (then)  you won’t be able to go out and play

And the list goes on.  I think you get the picture.

Now let’s consider the situation we’ve been dealing with for the last 2+ years:

  • if you don’t get the 1-2-3 shots, (then) you can’t eat in a restaurant, jump on a plane, bus or train and you may even be shunned by friends, neighbours or family.
  • if you don’t get the shots, (then) you will not be able to work
  • if you don’t get the shots, (then) you won’t be able to visit your family member in a nursing home or hospital
  • if you do get the vaccine (3 shots), (then) you can do all these things but you can’t be assured that you won’t catch Covid.
  • if you supported the ‘working class’ truckers and their friends who were standing up for freedom of choice (then) you may have been tracked and even possibly arrested.
  • if you supported them with donations, (then) your bank account could be seized.

Enough of that – now let’s see what God has to say that fits in with this little word IF.

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Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, (then) you will be saved.”  

Here are wonderful, assuring words spoken by Paul to his fellow countrymen (Jews) declaring the truth of righteousness by faith.

In other words – we are to proclaim His deity ‘Jesus is Lord; and believe with our “heart” (emotions, affections, intellect & will) that God raised him from the dead THEN we are assured we will experience the bedrock of Christian Faith & Salvation in clear language (we will be saved).

The book of Romans (NIV translation) actually has 70 IF statements you can check out.

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Now let’s turn to 2 Chronicles chapters 15 and 16 where you will see a clear example of how this word IF played out in the life of Asa, the King of Judah and I would suggest a good lesson for us all.   I will write out a few verses that will demonstrate how God worked in his life with ‘good news’ and ‘bad news’ all flowing out of this promise:

“The LORD is with you when you are with him.  IF you seek him, he will be found by you, but IF you forsake him, he will forsake you.”  2 Chron 15:2

Asa moved forward destroying all their detestable idols and here we see him following the call of God:  “They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, will all their heart and soul.”  verse 12

“They sought God eagerly and he was found by them.  So the LORD gave them rest on every side.”  Verse 15b.  

Now the bad news:  After 35 years of being obedient Asa took a wrong turn.  “Because you (Asa) relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.” 16:7

“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet.  Though his disease was severe, even in his illness, he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.  Then in the 41st year of his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers.”  16:12, 13

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Lastly today I’ll share some very clear IF – THEN verses all from one section found in 1 John 1: 6-10 and 2:3

Verse 6 – “IF we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, (THEN) we lie and do not live by the truth.”

Verse 8 – “IF we claim to be without sin, (THEN) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Verse 9 – “IF we confess our sins, (THEN) he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  

Verse 10 – “IF we claim we have not sinned, (THEN) we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

Verse 2:3 “We know that we have come to know him IF we obey his commands.”  

I think you’ll agree that these verses have very clear and important truths we all need to reflect on as we make our own personal journey through understanding and making claims relating to our walk and our faith.

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There are so many examples I could include in this article, but what I’m hoping you’ll do going forward is to make it a point to not only see the word IF as you read God’s Word but to see how God honors the promises associated with it but also how many are affected by the warnings.

I may even continue on with a few more IF examples in my next article.  Blessings to each of you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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