IF

“If you love me, obey my commands.” ~John 14:15

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” ~ Luke 9:23 (NLT)

For me, one of the greatest mysteries of GOD is that HE gave us free will.  Once there was nothing, only GOD. Then there was a moment, and in that moment, GOD spoke, and creation began. After HE created humanity, first from dirt then from a rib stamping these humans with HIS image-making humankind in HIS image-bearers forever; HE, the all-knowing, all-powerful, all present GOD gave humans the ability, even the right, to reject HIM.  I find this mind-boggling.

When Jesus was on this earth He never once forced anyone to follow HIM. HE never power tripped, He never debated. The fact is HE allowed people to walk away from HIM. To accuse HIM, reject HIM, lie about HIM, abuse HIM.

Jesus offered up the ‘if’ to all those around HIM. HE continues to offer it today.  You don’t have to love HIM, but ‘if’ you do there is a clear path HE has set out for us to follow.  I realize some believe that Jesus has not chosen them and that is simply NOT TRUE!  Jesus loves you – we are assured of this fact. GOD sent HIS Son to this earth for us (John 3:16). Jesus defeated the power of sin and darkness on our behalf so that we could have access to GOD (Romans 8:5).

The issue has never been whether or not GOD would choose you; the heart of the matter is whether or not you will choose HIM. And ‘if’ you choose HIM there is a clear but narrow path you must follow.  This path laid out for us is a path of relationship, not rules.  A path of love, love that is more extraordinary than anything we are capable of on our own.

‘IF’ you accept the love of Almighty GOD into your life, it will transform you.  You will be incapable of remaining the same.  This love ‘invasion’ reaches to the greatest depths of your being and creates new life, a new way of thinking, feeling, living.  There is no other way to describe this transformation other than to say that when GOD’s deep, personal love is welcomed into your life it recreates you leaving you born again.

Not long ago while in deep conversation with the LORD a memory I had long forgotten flashed in my mind.  I was a grieving, lost teen searching for answers standing across the street from my house when I looked to heaven and declared my own ‘if’.

“If YOU are real and YOU want me to believe in YOU then I need YOU to give me faith to believe YOU and eyes to see YOU.”  Astonishingly, to me at least, HE answered that prayer in spades. And turned the ‘if’ back to me.

If you want to follow me, Crystal, then you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily and follow me. The choice to follow is mine. The choice to be loved by my Creator and Saviour is mine.  The choice to surrender my life to HIM is mine.  The LORD will never force me to follow HIM, HE will never force me to obey HIS commands – HE always leaves the choice up to me.

There is an incredible hard truth in the ‘IF’.  The ‘IF’ will always cost something.  For myself and all those that choose Jesus the ‘IF’ means our lives are no longer our own.  My life, all that I am belongs to the Saviour.  My priorities, my time, my devotion, my worldview, begin with HIM.  My selfish ways have to die, and without HIS help it is impossible for me to conquer my ‘self’.

‘IF’ you chose HIM, you must become less, HE must become more.  ‘IF’ you do not choose HIM then you do not know HIM and you are not part of His Kingdom, now or in the future.

GOD will never force Himself on you or me, after all HE gave us the freedom to decide “IF’ we would choose HIM or not.  Jesus made it clear that if we reject HIM now while the choice is ours that choice will be honoured when we stand before HIM face to face.

Father,

Thank you for your mercy. May the truth of who you are ring out in our lost and hopeless world.  I pray for each reader, my friends, that YOUR love washes over them in the most miraculous of ways and that in this precious moment YOU become more real, more compelling, more delightful in their lives than they can even imagine. Bless them, Father. In Jesus name Amen.