“That’s a pretty big ‘if,’ don’t you think?” I was discussing the upcoming reserve training weekend with my reserve unit counterpart, who didn’t feel the necessity for developing an alternate training schedule in the event of inclement weather. In the back of my mind, I’m hearing my life philosophy echoing: The only thing you can plan on is that nothing goes according to plan.

Not wanting to undermine my counterpart in front of his subordinates, I let it pass. The following month it was pouring rain when the unit members arrived, and the Army Guard camp where we were scheduled to train was experiencing flash flooding. I took my counterpart aside and gave him a training schedule he could conduct inside the Reserve Center. I told him to brief his staff and officers as if it were his plan. It was the last time he ever came without a backup plan.

It’s a funny thing about the word “if.” Biblical scholars get amped up over some of the deep theological terms like “epistemology,” “propitiation,” or “eschatology.” For my part, I have found the little words to be interesting, even challenging on occasion. Such is the word “if.” It always implies a choice to be made or a direction to follow.

After feeding the five thousand, Jesus was with His disciples when He said: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24, ESV). Our God is amazing. Not only does He always give us a choice, but He also states the cost of following. We have the choice to follow or not, but He always gives us the “if.”

There is a “cheap grace” message in the church today that fails to tell the “if” part of the message. Taking up our cross is never easy, but the upside far outweighs the downside. The Apostle Paul gave us the upside when he said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). We know that Satan is against us, but following God’s game plan, choosing the correct “if” option, ensures victory and eternal rewards. We are promised success only when we choose the proper “if” option.

The Apostle Peter gives us the game plan:

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:3-10).

See the “ifs” here? If these qualities are yours, you will never be ineffective or unfruitful. If you practice these qualities, you will never fall.

Here is one last “if” question: “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!