"The Answer to 'What If....?'"

“The Answer to ‘What If….?’”

During my seminary days we received complimentary copies of Christianity Today. (In my case the magazine made a profitable investment as I’ve renewed it continuously since 1968.) Those earlier issues always had a John Lawing cartoon under the general title “What If….?” which depicted biblical themes from a humorous point of view. The scenarios illustrated never happened (church history would have taken a very different course if they had) but they presented some light moments in the midst of dealing with serious matters.

Not long ago our pastor, Wayne Blackburn, was speaking about the “what ifs….?” of life in which we expect the worst (which almost never happens) and thus worry needlessly. Karen leaned over to me and said, “The answer to ‘what if….?’ Is ‘God is….’”. Since then I’ve thought about how to finish this statement when the struggles of life overwhelm us with “what ifs….?”. Here are my top ten completers:

*God is great (“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”—Psalm 145:3).

*God is good (“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”—Nahum 1:7).

*God is loving (“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”—Jeremiah 31:3, NLT).

*God is just (“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.”—Deuteronomy 32:4).

*God is truthful (“…God…cannot lie….”—Titus 1:2).

*God is patient (“The Lord…is patient toward you….”—2 Peter 3:9. NASB).

*God is gentle (“He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope.”—Isaiah 42:3, NLT).

*God is compassionate (“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him….”—Psalm 103:13).

*God is always present (“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5).

And perhaps best of all….

*God is faithful (“God, who calls you, is faithful….”—1 Thessalonians 5:24, NLT).

(All scriptural emphases are added.)

At the time of this writing the world is gripped by the Coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps many are thinking (and maybe saying aloud), “What will become of humanity?” If our archenemy puts this in your mind remember the “God is'es” above. Billy Graham’s broadcasts often concluded with Robert Cole’s song, “He’s the Christ of Every Crisis”. And He still is—including COVID-19!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan