If/Then Scenario

“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

Jesus said the above to Mary about raising Lazarus from the dead. But we need to look at the statement more simplistically and with practical application.

Jesus says “if” thou wouldest believe, thou “shouldest” see the glory of God?

The key words here are “if” and “shouldest”.

If indicates that she didn’t believe. Shouldest indicates that with belief comes the glory of God. If Mary had only believed she could have raised Lazarus.

This is really a gut check. Is our belief an “if” or is it a “certainty”?

This basic if/then scenario gets played out in our lives each and every day. If our belief level was where it should be we would see the glory of God in more things in more places. Instead, with only an “if” belief system we don’t see what we most yearn for-God.

The man that had a son with a dumb spirit confronted Jesus with the same if/then scenario.

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:23-24).

We all need help in improving our belief. But first and foremost we must look for the glory of God in all things. The search will produce the result and in turn motivate the belief. The more the belief the more our eyes will be open to the glory of God the more we will find and discover it. It is a growing sphere of glory and influence.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

No one needs to be in the world of “if”. Jesus is referred to as the rock for this very reason. He is real, tangible and constant. There is no “if” about Jesus, only certainty. So with the “if” removed we are left with the “then” and all things become possible through Christ who strengthens us.

Bill Hitchcock