The most glaring and unnerving word used in all of Scripture is the word “if.” It is a word that separates light from darkness, good from evil, and heaven from hell. The word “if” is often a choice, and every choice is a decision for what you are going to do next in your life.
Almost every “if” in the Bible is a choice we must make. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26 NKJV).
Carnal Christianity in our day preaches to the flesh and lets your spirit wither. Everyone speaks of God’s unconditional love and acts like there are then no other conditions. But even a cursory look at God’s Word proves them wrong. If you would only look for the if.
Never preach what people want to hear, but what they need to hear. The wisdom of men will tickle their ears, but the words of Christ will kick them in the stomach. Jesus commands us, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27 NKJV). If your walk is easy, then your faith is watered down.
The carnal preacher preaches to the flesh because people seek what pleases their flesh. If you want to be popular, you must preach what people want to hear. The fewer conditions you place on people, the more they will flock to your teaching.
If you only listen to preachers who make you feel good as you are, how do you expect to change? If you want to do more, then listen to preachers who call you out to be more. “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold” (2 Timothy 4:3 AMP).
Yet there is a wonderful truth behind every condition, which is this: when you make the right choice, then it will go well for you. God doesn’t use the word “if” to steal your joy but to give you joy in all the promises that He has for you, if you would only listen to Him.
It’s not how long you live that matters most, but how well you live. “For the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil’” (1 Peter 3:10-12 NLT).
If you believe, then anything is possible. Conversely, if you don’t believe, then barely a thing can happen. The outcome of your faith is determined by the degree of your faith. If your faith is real, then your life will show it.
If the life of Jesus reigns in you, then it will show. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB).
If you obey God, then God will bless you. Too many today preach the hyper-grace message, which says we are saved by grace and not by works, and so the works do not matter. Only the devil would teach you to remain in your sin. What you do matters.
The proof of being wise isn’t with what you know but how you live your life. “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13 NLT).
If you follow the commands of God, then your life will be so much better. Your consequences are most often the result of your choices. Stop trying to blame the world for what you did to yourself. You may have made bad choices before, but what will you do next?
What would you do differently if you spoke with God before you did anything? “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6 TLB).
If you are walking contrary to the Lord, then He is walking contrary to you. When you are not walking with the Lord, you are going in the wrong direction. If you return to Him, then He will return to you. Conversely, if you don’t return to Him, then you’re on your own.
Until you turn from your sin, you are going in the wrong direction. “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you…” (Leviticus 26:27-28 NKJV). The Lord never changes direction, so He is only contrary to you if you are going the wrong way.
Don’t you dare pass up the word “if” in God’s Holy Scripture and not take stock of the condition it is giving you. Every condition is a choice, and every choice will have consequences. You can’t change the past, but the choice before you is still waiting.
Either Jesus is at the center of your life, or you are. “Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1 AMP).
The greatest questions ever asked are in God’s word and begin with the word “if.” If you confess, if you believe, if you turn to God, if you turn from wickedness, if only, if you would just, if you choose rightly. Let the banner of your day be to answer every “if” the Lord’s way.
The sum of your life is all the choices that you make. “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NLT).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Go deeper
If this spoke to you, there is more. Paul Balius has written a book called “If You Can Believe”. It goes deeper into all of this, for anyone ready to believe God for the impossible.
Paul has written three books. See them all
Thank you for sharing your God-given way of sharing God’s word, again. I so look forward to it, and take away new knowledge and revelations each week. You’re a treasure and, by the way, how fortuitous your parents named you Paul!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am always amazed by how much revelation there is of God’s truths. I am convinced we will spend all of eternity digging deeper into all that there is to know!
Philippians 2:12-30
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [a]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [b]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and [c]delight.
a. Philippians 2:12 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
b. Philippians 2:13 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
c. Philippians 2:13 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.
In attitude, ardor and action, we are to deliberately live habitually in cooperation with the operation of the illimitably wondrous Holy Spirit, our heavenly Helper from on high, indwelling us, and by Whom we, as consecrated citizens of the celestial city, are sealed and secure.
Immersed in His omnipresent Presence, the fire of His Shulamite desire burns within our being as believers of our most beautiful Beloved, to not only fuel us but to flood us with His inimitably ingenious, indispensably intimizing, sovereignly sanctifying Self, forward with faith, fervently to do the precious, prospering pleasure of the One all marvelous, all magnificent, Triune God of all goodness, grace and glory.
I love the Amplified versions that expand the Word to help us grasp it’s truths with more clarity!
the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ