If You… Then
From Pastor Tim’s article in the 2/10/16 Weekly Update
I once met a man who purchased a brand of lawnmower with a reputation for being thoroughly dependable. In fact, the purchase came with a guarantee that, should anything go wrong with the mower in the first year after purchase, he could return it to the dealer and receive his money back.
He told me after the purchase he had become a walking, unpaid salesman for the company telling all his friends and neighbors about his decision to purchase a “top quality” mower with the promise of a hassle free return if anything went wrong in the first 365 days.
The mower worked fine and my friend had no complaints, until day 366 when the engine blew and he was left with no mower and no refund.
In truth, he had done everything right. He had done his homework, shopped for a bargain, a warranty and a dependable name brand. Still, he was left with egg on his face.
One of the most dangerous concepts that we can possess in this lifetime is that if we do the right thing the result will always be a good one.
True, many people make questionable decisions in life and then expect everything to turn out just dandy. A more common story is the person who does what they are supposed to do and then experiences the bitter taste of failure.
Facebook is loaded with posts from people who outline the steps that need to be taken to accomplish good things. They typically begin, “If you do this, this and this, then this and this will happen. While we may wish it were truthful, the reality tells a different story.
Smiling and being kind will not always produce similar behavior in other people. Working hard will not always lead to success and prosperity. Being faithful will not always lead to the land of being recognized and valued.
A well-known long distance runner and health nut died unexpectedly of a heart attack. He had done all the right things and still succumbed to death at an early age. Life comes with no such promises, even for those who do all the right things.
This life is complex and although some politicians delight in fortune cookie answers and solutions to problems, the truth is that there are many mysteries and unexplainable situations that are revealed in life.
The most incompetent Union General at Gettysburg outlived all the other Generals who fought there in 1863. Did he do anything to deserve such long life? No. He just lived longer.
The next time you read about a wonder drug that will add years to your life, remember this axiom; our times are in God’s hands and He alone fully understands the vast distance between point A and point B.
Come eternity, we’ll either have the mysteries explained to us . . . or we’ll long before ceased to care.
