Being at Peace Even When the What-If’s Happen
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18
For Insight
Have you given much thought to how much of life is based on those “what if’s?” In fact, there’s an entire industry built around many of them.
What if the car breaks down?
What if our house is broken into?
What if everything we own is destroyed in a fire or flood?
What if the appliances or heating system break down?
What if we get sick?
What if we have an accident and become injured, disabled?
What if we die suddenly?
Of course, for all of these “what-if’s” there are insurance policies to cover us and help us sleep better at night.
Through the prophet Isaiah God presents a set of “what-if’s”. He says what if the fig tree doesn’t blossom or fruit appear on the vines or the fields do not produce food or there are no cattle in the stalls. These are real things that would have been especially important to those who farmed during that time and were responsible for feeding or providing services to others.
Sometimes life presents us with things even the best insurance policies cannot cover or make less impactful. Advent is a time of hopefulness and anticipation but it’s also a time to redirect us to an important set of what’if’s. One of those is “what if Christ returns today, right now.” Are you covered?
It’s entirely possible to never experience losing our possessions to a fire or flood. We may never experience our appliances or systems break down. What we cannot escape is experiencing Christ’s return. We might not be around when he descends from heaven to earth, but he will still come for us when it is our time to die. Even if we get away with having no health or home Insurance we don’t want to chance it when it comes to our eternity.
God provides an answer for the What-if’s. He says even is the worst possible scenario happens we rejoice in him. If we don’t have anything else, we still have God. We can use the same wisdom we use to cover earthly possessions and become smart about insuring our relationship with Jesus and eternity. This will help us sleep more soundly and avoid worrying about our future.
Jesus, I don’t want to chance being without you in eternity. Today I place my faith in you as my Lord and Savior. I confess my sins and ask for your Holy Spirit and for forgiveness. Help me to live a life that pleases the Father and affirms my faith so on the last Day I will receive heaven as my eternal home. Amen
Christmas Mindfulness
Rejoice that God sent Jesus to save you from an eternity without him. Rejoice that the Savior is yours and you are his.
Devotionally Yours 