Articles
There Is No "IF"
In his Romans commentary Jim McGuiggan confesses to a time early in his life that he became envious of a new convert who had a wonderful house that his own family lacked. He related an imaginary conversation with God over the injustice of the situation: “‘How is it,’ I wanted to know, ‘that these who have only arrived in your service should already be blessed in a way we have been denied?’ (Juvenile, isn’t it?! A little embarrassing even today after so long a time.) And as I reflected on His Word I could ‘hear’ him tell me: ‘Come on, Jim, you know I love you more deeply than you can know. Don’t let a thing like this bother you.’
“But how could he love me when he permitted us to live in such poverty? I mean, another little house shouldn’t be a hard thing for the great Lord of the universe to provide. If he loved me, he would do it! And again I could ‘hear’ him say, ‘IF I loved you? What do you mean IF I loved you. Haven’t I made that clear once-and-for-all in giving my Son for you?’
“‘Hasn’t your rebellious heart cheapened the gift of my Son?’ … Ah, what fools we are. ‘Shall he not with him also freely give us all things?’ So whether it is a baby you want; or a partner, a house, health, wealth, education, or any other lovely thing – don’t hold God for ransom for any of these things. Once-and-for-all he has made it clear: ‘I AM FOR YOU! I ADORE YOU!’ Ask for the others, tell him what you would like, but resist the temptation to say: ‘IF you loved me …’ There is no IF” (comments on Rom 8:32, p 265, emphasis jj).
This open window into McGuiggan’s soul should help us look into our own. Are we dissatisfied with our life? Is there some earthly possession, attainment, blessing, etc. we lack that makes us miserable? Or do we tell ourselves, “My life is OK, but I’d really be happy IF God …”. And if the thing we so desperately want doesn’t materialize, do we, like McGuiggan, throw ourselves a pity party and conclude that God doesn’t love us?
Remember that in the midst of his terrible tribulation Job didn’t have Romans 8:32 to fall back on. God had blessed Job with material wealth, a harmonious family, respect in his community, etc. By all standards of godly living in his own era Job was a righteous man who loved and honored God and his neighbors. When catastrophe struck and Job tried to understand its dynamics, he reflected in part on God’s goodness:
“You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit” (10:12).
“Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me; when His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness; just as I was in the days of my prime, when the friendly counsel of God was over my tent; when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were around me; when my steps were bathed with cream, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!” (29:1-6).
But now that his life has taken a bitter turn, Job has difficulty reconciling the love and favor God once showed him with his present calamity. Of course, Scripture reveals that Job was not suffering because God was displeased with him, but rather the opposite. But Job lacked this perspective, and he certainly did not have the reality of Jesus’ atoning death as an eternal beacon of God’s love. We, however, do have this knowledge, but do we rely on the cross as a foundation and stabilizer when in distress? Or do we occasionally mirror McGuiggan’s self-pity and focus on real or imagined trouble, thus concluding that God doesn’t care?
Consider some other aspects of life in which there should be “no IF”:
1. One spouse says to another, “IF you loved me you would __________” (make my favorite meal; buy me the car I want; take me to Bali; let me spend more time with my friends, etc.). This is nothing more than emotional manipulation; it ignores all the other loving things our mate has done and judges their devotion based on the one thing we feel is lacking. Further, once the person exercising this leverage gets what they want, another demand will arise in its place. Such selfish, manipulative words should not be in the vocabulary of married couples.
2. One Christian says to another, “IF you really loved God you would not have committed that sin.” Many years ago in a Bible class I wasn’t teaching, I heard a young Christian voice his belief that if we sin, it is proof positive that we don’t really love God. We might conclude various things about someone succumbing to temptation (they were caught in a moment of weakness; they gave in to pain; they were pressured by fear; etc.), but to judge another’s level of love for God is “above our pay grade.” Would we likewise say that every failure toward our spouse is a sign we do not truly love them? Probably not.
In our human weakness we rarely engage our full potential in serving God. Ideally, a perfect love for God would not sin; a perfect faith would not fail; a perfect trust would never doubt; a perfect devotion would never prioritize someone or something over God, etc. But an imperfect faith is still faith (though deficient); an imperfect love is still love (though weak). What needs to be said when a fellow Christian falls is, “How can I help you understand what happened, and how can I help you grow stronger?”
3. Three “IFs” that should never have passed the lips of a human were slanderously hurled at Jesus as He died, “IF You are the Son of God, come down from the cross … IF He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now IF He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God …’” (Mt 27:40, 42-43). IF … the Son of God? IF … the King of Israel? IF … God will have Him? Surely God’s abundant patience and mercy kept Him from striking these people dead on the spot.
Jesus had amply demonstrated evidence of who He was by working miracles, fulfilling Scripture, displaying divine character (cf. Jn 5:36; 8:46; 14:9-11; 20:30-31; Ac 2:22-23; Lk 24:25-27; etc.). The problem was not lack of evidence; the problem was the Jews’ lack of spirituality, callous traditionalism, earthly ambition and the desire to please men more than God. We have no right to judge God or manipulate our fellow humans by misuse of the word “IF.” Small word, massive consequences.
