"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 119:18 (KJV)
What If …
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb. 11:6
We are to use common sense in our decision-making, but many times we rely more on our own choices than those of the Lord. For a Christian,there needs to be a correct balance in doing what we want, living by faith, and patiently allowing God to show us His way and provide our needs.
Unfortunately, many seek God’s direction infrequently, do not live by faith, and constantly push God out of their life. Some signs of a Christian’s lack of faith and lack of waiting on the Lord are when a Christian thinks:
- “What if God doesn’t (or can’t) provide a Christian mate for me? So, I’ll just go out and ‘settle’ for the first person that wants to marry me, even though they are not a Christian like I am.”
- “What if our marriage does not work out? So, I’ll just ‘shack-up’ with this person, so I don’t have to get a divorce.”
- “What if I can’t find any Christian friends?” So, they start friendships with those that are unsaved and wonder why their Christian standards are compromised, and they are not living a life the way they should.
- “What if I can’t pay my bills? So, I will not tithe my income to my local church, so I’ll have enough.”
- “What if I witness to my neighbor or fellow employee, and he gets mad at me? So, I’ll play it safe and not say a word to my neighbor about the Lord.”
- “What if I put my children in Christian school, and don’t have enough money to pay their tuition?” So, they put their children in public school and face the consequences of their children’s being exposed seven hours a day for at least 12 years to unscriptural, worldly teachings and then wonder why their children do not live a Christ-centered lifestyle and instead make wrong decisions.
- “What if I get saved and still sin?” So they never trust Christ as their Saviour. It is a shame that those people do not know that all sin, even after they get saved, is forgiven. It is the Lord that will help anyone get the victory over sin.
We are to use common sense and to have a proper balance using discernment the Lord has also allowed us to have, but at all times we are to live by faith. God would not command us to live the way He has without its being obtainable. Living by faith and doing what He has said, can be done; and it will produce a better life for one that seeks and obeys God in all he does.
God can provide a godly mate for a Christian that will wait patiently on God’s timing. God can provide Christian friends who are the proper influences. God can meet your financial needs when you make tithing and Christian education a priority. God can use you to lead others to the Lord and protect you from any dangers or problems you perceive could happen when telling others about the Lord. God can help you with personal temptations you face in your life. There is nothing God cannot help you with, if you make the first step of faith in allowing Him to lead you and WAIT patiently for Him to work in your life.
Make God your plan A, plan B, plan C …. Sometimes God may change the direction you think you should be going, because it may never have been His intention in the beginning, or it was only a direction for a certain amount of time. It is God that desires to use those that have a desire to be led. A God-directed Christian will never be sorry, if they scripturally live by faith.
“No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.” — William Borden, Missionary
This article was featured in The Bible View #397.
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