When “if” turns to “if not”

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” John 11:21

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”  John 11:32

You know… I don’t want to seem harsh on the sisters here, but… His name is Jehovah-Shammah, “The Lord is There.” 

So, they were wrong.  He was there… and Lazarus did die.  But Jesus was so patient, as He always is.  He didn’t correct them.  He didn’t use the opportunity to teach them sound doctrine… though He could have.

He didn’t get offended or roll His eyes.

He simply answered, “Thy brother shall rise again.” (v.23)

He knew what they really wanted.  He knew that they were angry with Him.  After all, they were His close friends.  They confessed that He was the Son of God (v. 27), but were they acting according to that confession?

I know a group of men who did…

“If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

You see, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood that God does what God does, and God is good.

They started with and “if” just as Mary and Martha.  And just as Mary and Martha they understood that the All-Powerful God of the heavens, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was able to… deliver them from the furnace… keep Lazarus from dieing… BUT

The three amigos went the step further.  They got to the “But if not.”

Are we there? 

Lord, You are able to beat this cancer…

You are able to get me a job…

To pay these bills…

To mend this relationship…

But if not…

I will still praise You, for You are still God.  You are here.  You are always here.

And You want me to need You…  You want me to want You…

And sometimes it takes a “but if not” to do it.

I pray, oh Lord, that all those who read this (myself included) and have gone through a situation where they knew You could have done what it was they were asking… but seemingly didn’t…

Give them the peace that passes understanding.  And bring them through this fire.

In Jesus Name, and for Your Glory.

SDG