If, Then

1 Kings 9:6 "But if you turn aside from following me..."

Have you noticed how it seems that all of God's promises to these men in Israel are conditional? God repeats over and over again this "if, then" style. He promises good things to those who are obedient, and bad things to those who are disobedient and forsake Him. In this instance if Solomon is obedient, then God will bless him. If Solomon walks away from God, then God will cast him away. It is kind of scary. Who among us could be faithful?! What if God continued this if then style into our eternal state?

What if God said, "If you are obedient, then you can be in heaven with Me"? Aren't you thankful that the Christian life is not about our obedience (I am NOT making light of being obedient, read Romans 6 if you want the other side of the coin). It is not dependent on us, but rather on Him who died and rose again. In a way, things have not changed at all. God still uses the if then style. But it is phrased "If Jesus is obedient, then you can be in heaven with Me." If He wears our crown of thorns, if He is spit on with spit that should have been for us, if He is pierced through with spikes--then we can go free.

If Israel was obedient, they got land.

If Jesus was obedient even to death (and we trust Him), then we have God Himself as our Inheritance! Our obedience is pure gratitude!

Is it not good to be a believer in Jesus today?