IF ONLY Isaiah 48:17-22
Just recently we had a speaker from the world of rugby and two words have stuck in my head, these words are IF ONLY.
As we look back through our lives how often do those two words pop up.
If only I had not done or said that then that would not have happened.
If only my parents had told me that they loved me.
If only I had taken a different direction in life.
As I reflected I thought of some of the Giants of the Christian Faith one of my favourites I relate to is Paul the apostle.
He was so anti Christianity that he held the coats as people stoned Stephen to death.
I wonder if he said,“If only I hadn't done that.”
And King David who got a man killed so he could have his wife, he was full of remorse, did he say to himself,“If only I had not done that.”
I am sure we can all think of other examples both from the Bible but also in our own lives.
In our reading God is speaking to a disobedient Israel there is nothing new and He says,
Verse 18 “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would be like a river, your righteousness like waves of the sea.”
The simple truth of the matter is that when we do not follow God’s commands then we lose our peace and often we also lose our righteousness.
At the Bible study on Wednesday night we were reflecting on Mark Ch1 and we read how Jesus had been in prayer and the disciples came to Him and said, “The people are looking for you.”
Now I suspect if that was us a bit of pride would creep in and we would say "right let’s go and see them" but instead Jesus replies,“We need to go to other villages.”
There are two types of command, the ones written down, known as the Torah, part of which is the Ten Commandments and then the commands when God is speaking to us.
During the mission I was in Talbot Green, alovely sunny day and I was with these two Americans, they were very loud but great people.
They got in conversation with someone and I saw this dirty smelly guy wandering around picking up cigarette ends off the road.
For the last 20 plus years I have ministered among people like this and I knew God didn't really want me to talk to Him.
So, I lent on the railings looking in the other direction.
But he kept coming back round and the problem with Talbot Green was that there were more Christians wandering around than people. However, nobody else spoke to him either.
I knew it wasn't right and in the end he disappeared around the corner but I had no peace.
In the end I said to our American cousins I need to go and see someone I rushed up the road and caught up with this guy.
His story was for two years he had been living in the woods he obviously had mental health issues but I talked with him. It didn't alter his situation when I prayed with him.
But I knew it was the right thing to do if I had not done it then it would have been an “if only” moment.
We need to listen to what God is saying to us sometimes it may be like an audible voice but often it's just that quiet prompting, that inner voice.
And with all of it we have a choice whether to be obedient or whether to go our own way.
God tells Israel Verse 18 “If only you had listened you would have had peace.”
I think peace is one of the hardest things, we can ever be seeking that peace that goes beyond all human understanding.
Sometimes I have watched Christians about to be martyred by the Muslims in Iraq or whatever and it frightens me to imagine being in that position.
I can only imagine they are so close to God that they have a supernatural peace and I praise God for that.
So where are we in the IF ONLY stakes I wonder are there ‘if only's’ stopping us from having peace and righteousness. I know it's a word that has haunted me almost for most of my life.
Yet God is calling us to let go of the past and to look ahead to what He has in store for us as individuals and as a Chapel.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
God is calling us back to Him If only we hear His voice and respond to it then this is the promise that He gives to us.