If Only…

By Willa Johnson

Ask politicians what they want to be remembered for and you’ll hear a litany of their accomplishments and the legacy they worked so hard to achieve. We are no different. If only we had listened to our parents, maybe we wouldn’t have got into trouble. If only we had studied harder and worked for better grades, we’d have a better education. If only we had more money, we wouldn’t have to scrape so much. If only we took better care of our bodies, we would have better health. The if only list is endless.

In Deuteronomy 28 God tells the Israelites to obey or else. In the New Testament John records Christ’s words of instructions in the 15^th chapter wherein Christ reiterates the same message from the Old Testament. If a man remains in me…he will bear much fruit. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. If you remain in me …ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. Throughout the chapter the word “if” is used a total of eleven times, giving promises for obeying and warnings if we don’t.

A monthly newsletter from Sudan African Mission related they now have 300,000 converts. It’s amazing because this mission was started by a retired pastor who knew about mechanical operations and was sent to Sudan as an instructor. He befriended one man whom he led to Christ. From that one man, the Sudan African Mission was born and today includes a medical facility, a Bible college and a potential of 3600 churches! When asked by skeptics in America about the truth of the numbers, Paul Douglass said, “When you have 20 ordained, sold out Evangelists going out from your church crying on every street then you will have 1000’s to report also.” The Douglasses started their ministry in Sudan in 1988 and are still going strong in their 80s. That’s quite a legacy with that many fruitful “Timothys” to their credit.

A verse referred to many times this past year in appealing to Christians to look to God for guidance was II 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Many Americans believe our land needs healing.

Every one of us wants to believe that our life has meaning to others in some way. It is human nature. Perhaps we’d all have a better legacy if we obeyed God. If we did, rather than satiating ourselves with our own desires, we could leave a legacy so that when we meet our Lord face to face he will welcome us with, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Willa Johnson writes from Phoenix, Oregon. wjhat@ccountry.com