What if? is an interesting start to a sentence. It has led people to places they have never been before.

Transcription

1 What If? What if? is an interesting start to a sentence. It has led people to places they have never been before. Just a few months ago, it helped me figure out what was wrong with my ipad and its attached keyboard. It has helped me solve numerous problems through the years. What if has preceded most great discoveries and inventions: What if the earth is round? What if we can use electricity to produce light? What if we can prevent people from getting polio? What if we can land someone on the moon? It has also brought many people to places they would rather not have gone. America s Funniest Home Videos is built on what ifs gone wrong. What if I jump off the roof onto my trampoline and then dive into my swimming pool? What if I try to skateboard for the first time (and I m 70 years old)? What if I set up this jump on the pier and use it to launch me and my bicycle into the lake? What if I try to pull down this tree with my brand-new Ford F150? If you have ever watched the program, you get a very clear picture of what I m talking about. What if? is usually the start of an adventure or misadventure. But, it generally precedes and guides our actions. We learn a lot about life by how our what Ifs turn out. What if I pee on this electric fence will teach me a lot about the properties of electricity. What if I skip school today because I m not ready for this test can teach me the importance of being prepared and meeting my appointments. What if I try tennis (or skiing, or any other sport) helps me find out what I am good at and enjoy. What if I talk to can bring new friends and interesting discoveries. If Only? Closely associated with what if is if only. This; however, generally follows bad actions or failing to follow through on a what if. Page 1 10

2 If only I had studied for that test If only I had gotten more exercise If only I had treated my folks better If only I had taken that job and followed that dream If only I had made my family a greater priority While what if fosters hope, enthusiasm, and learning; if only usually brings pain, disappointment, and regret. All of this applies to our spiritual life as well. Considering some what if questions can help us avoid if only regrets What if everything the Bible says about God and life is true? What if Jesus really meant it when He said in Matthew 11:28-30? Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT) What if God s promise in Isaiah 41 is true? I am the LORD your God. I am holding your hand, so don t be afraid. I am here to help you. (Isaiah 41:13, CEV) What if all of this stuff is false what will we lose if we follow it anyway? What if all these things are true and we don t believe it and fail to follow Jesus what will we lose? What if there really is a Heaven to gain and a hell to shun? We need to be asking some of these what if questions now so we can avoid some painful if onlys at the end of our lives. Trust? We have been doing a series on the life of Daniel titled Thriving in Babylon. We have been focusing on how he, and his friends, could thrive spiritually in the Godless society of Babylon. In the three sermons of this series so far, we have kept coming back to this text in Proverbs: Page 2 10

3 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) This is a verse many of us have been exposed to since we were little you may even have memorized it. It s a verse that sounds wonderful and feels comforting. The problem is, most of us don t do it. We live as if we don t believe that God really meant what He said. Many of us, though we would not admit it openly, believe that somehow real life doesn t work this way. Rather than trusting God and submitting to Him we tend to lean on our own understanding. We tend to give it our best shot and not follow through with God s way of doing it. We like to pick and choose. We re often not sure we will like the outcome of totally trusting in God, especially if it might affect our finances or our use of time. Some resist getting involved helping meet other s needs because it takes time and resources we want to use in other ways. Many of us pay tithe and give offerings when we think we can afford it rather than faithfully following God s instructions and leaving the results in His hands. Others of us rationalize working on Sabbath if we need to hold on to a job and the finances are tough rather than following His instructions and trusting Him with the outcome. The list could go on What If? What if God really means what He said? A failure on our part of this could lead to a big if only later in our life. The key word in this promise is all Trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways submit to him. The bottom line is, we will not experience the promise He will make your paths straight until we are willing to meet the conditions Trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways submit to him. But, you may be thinking, this sounds rather arbitrary why can t He just work with what I give Him? Imagine that you are blind you can t see where you are going. I come to you and tell you that if you will do exactly what I tell you, I will take you safely to a place where there will be incredible food, wonderful music, good friends and where your blindness will be reversed. Page 3 10

4 You think that sounds good so you say okay. So, I tell you to take three steps forward, which you do and things are going great. I then tell you to turn to your right and take five steps forward. You notice that it feels warmer to your left and you like it warm, so instead of following my direction you turn to the left and start walking that way. I say, stop but you don t. I say you re going to hurt yourself but you keep going. And then, you run into a steam boiler, nose first. It s hot and you burn your nose. You yell at me asking why I let you hurt yourself. You declare that you don t think you can trust me anymore if I can t lead you better than that. I simply say, turn around and take eight steps toward me, which you do without further incident. I could make this story last for a long time but we are bit short on that today. All Your Heart All Your Ways This story illustrates, in a small way, why Proverbs says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways submit to him. What if God really knows the future like the Bible indicates? Do you know the future? I don t I have been surprised by it many times, in both good and bad ways. If He knows the future, it makes sense that the best way for us to navigate it is by following His directions, exactly as He gives them. God knows our needs. He created the universe He certainly has the power to take care of us. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) You will not really begin to approach your potential as a Christian until you make the decision to trust God enough to follow Him in all your ways even if you can t see past the immediate, surrounding circumstances. We can avoid an if only regret towards the end of our lives by asking ourselves; What if we started living like we really trust God? What might happen in our lives? There s only one way to find out! Page 4 10

5 Notes Most everything you find in this color is a hyperlink that will lead you to more complete references, different translations, or pertinent websites. *To read the sermons referred to above, click on the title below. Babylon (Thriving in Babylon, Introduction) A Stranger (Thriving in Babylon, Daniel 1) A Servant (Thriving in Babylon, Daniel 2) Scripture References 2 Chronicles 30:6-9 (NLT): At the king s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings. 7 Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. 8 Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the LORD. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the LORD your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you. (2 Chronicles 30:6-9, NLT) Proverbs 3:3-12 (NIV): Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Page 5 10

6 11 My son, do not despise the LORD s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3:3-12, NIV) Proverbs 19:16 (NLT): Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. (Proverbs 19:16, NLT) Isaiah 41:10-13 (CEV): Don t be afraid. I am with you. Don t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories. 11 Everyone who hates you will be terribly disgraced; those who attack will vanish into thin air. 12 You will look around for those brutal enemies, but you won t find them because they will be gone. 13 I am the LORD your God. I am holding your hand, so don t be afraid. I am here to help you. (Isaiah 41:10-13, CEV) Matthew 6:19-34 (NLT): Don t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 22 Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So don t worry about these things, saying, What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Page 6 10

7 34 So don t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:19-34, NLT) Matthew 10:34-39 (NLT): Don t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household! (Micah 7:6) 37 If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39, NLT) Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT): Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT) Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT): Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20, NLT) Mark 8:34-38 (NLT): Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38, NLT) Mark 9:14-28 (NLT): When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. 16 What is all this arguing about? Jesus asked. 17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes Page 7 10

8 him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn t do it. 19 Jesus said to them, You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me. 20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. 21 How long has this been happening? Jesus asked the boy s father. He replied, Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can. 23 What do you mean, If I can? Jesus asked. Anything is possible if a person believes. 24 The father instantly cried out, I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief! 25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak, he said. I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again! 26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, He s dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, Why couldn t we cast out that evil spirit? (Mark 9:14-28, NLT) Luke 9:23-26 (NLT): Then he said to the crowd, If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26, NLT) Romans 12:1-2 (NLT): And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2, NLT) Page 8 10

9 Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT): Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7, NLT) Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT): So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:14-16, NLT) Hebrews 8:10-12 (NLT): But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, You should know the LORD. For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins. (Hebrews 8:10-12, NLT quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34) James 4:7-10 (NIV): Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:7-10, NIV) E.G. White Quotations Desire of Ages, page 121: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises. Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support. Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions. But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is God's command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other. (Desire of Ages, page 121) Page 9 10

10 Desire of Ages, page 225: God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." (Philippians 1:29) And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor. (Desire of Ages, page 225) The Desire of Ages, page 664: Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was. (The Desire of Ages, page 664) The Desire of Ages, page 668: The Saviour's promise to His disciples is a promise to His church to As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength. But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ the "all things" to supply the need of fallen men was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And "whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." (1 John 3:22) (The Desire of Ages, page 668) Education, Page 57: The greatest want of the world is the want of men men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man. (Education, Page 57) Page 10 10