If Only . . .

November 29, 2022 Gracie

If Only I Was in Charge

Have you ever thought to yourself,

If only this would have happened

If only that didn’t happen

We don’t like not being in control, do we?

In some cases, it can boil down to our own pridefulness.

Here are some wise words from Pastor Vernon McGee:

Let me remind you that this is God’s universe, and He is doing things His way. You may think you have a better way, but you don’t have a universe to rule. – Dr. J. Vernon McGee, pastor, Bible teacher, theologian.¹

Ouch, right?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of “if only’s.”

God is a God of love, but He is not some kind of cosmic genie whose purpose here is to make everything easier for us.

Not even close!

God’s redemptive plan is to bring repentant sinners to salvation through Jesus Christ.

We look at the world today . . . increasing crime rates, violence, and blatant perversion aimed at children.

Please God, make it stop!

None of us deserve God’s patience, but He is merciful.

There is still time to help reach lost sinners for Him.

Think about it.

Their destiny is tragic.

That means that people we both know who are lukewarm, apathetic, or complete deniers of God will end up in Hell if they don’t repent and believe.

If only I was in charge, I would instantly make the whole world understand how desperate the times are now in which we are living.

But I’m not in charge.

God’s ways are not ours, and we should be thankful for His sovereignty.

“If Only” Does Nothing

Are we in the “last days”?

In the verse below, the Apostle Paul spoke to earlier believers of the last day signs.

See how these words also reveal to modern day Christians (you and me) about what we can expect.

We shouldn’t be surprised, but prepared.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 states,

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. ⁶For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, ⁷always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. – 2 Timothy 3:1-7, (NASB).²

How much longer will God put up with this wicked world?

God is working out His divine providence in His timing and His ways are perfect.

We won’t hear about it in the secular headlines, but people are being saved and coming to Christ in a very dark world.

His divine timetable remains a mystery.

I love this verse below:

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not willing for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9, (NASB).³

“… He is patient with you . . .”

Have you thought about how beautiful and comforting those words are?

Trust Him.

Some day this will all make sense.

When Your “if only’s” Become “that is why”

Did you know that the opposite of “if only,” is “that is why”?

Here’s the good news:

On that glorious day when we see our eternity firsthand, our “if only’s” will become “so that is why.”

Father God, thank You for who You are.

Thank You for Your mercy and compassionate love

for a world full of broken people.

Help us to see those opportunities to reach others for Christ

in our time remaining

and to recognize that this life is not about us,

but about bringing glory and honor to You.

There is still time.

May our “if only’s” cease to cloud our judgments.

May we remember always

that You love us,

and that is why

You sent us Your Son –

to save us from ourselves.

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¹J. Vernon McGee quotation, courtesy of azquotes.com.

Our Exceptional God