What If…

Recently, when on the road traveling in the district, I checked into the hotel I was staying at one night. There was a new person behind the counter, even though I’ve stayed at that hotel literally dozens of times through the years. I had my license and credit card ready when I checked in. The person behind the desk asked me if I was there on business or leisure. I said that it was for my work.  

The person asked what I did and I said, “I work with churches.” That was the first time the person looked at me!  

“Churches” the person replied – wow- which one?” I told her, “The Christian and Missionary Alliance” — which didn’t give her a clue at all.

“What’s a ‘Christian and Mission’ what?”

I said again, “Christian and Missionary Alliance,” and explained a few things to her about the C&MA, what we believe, Jesus’ death, life and resurrection, salvation, etc. The person seemed intrigued as there was nobody behind me in line to check in. A few more questions were asked of me about Christianity after I had my room key and the little spiel of amenities of the hotel.

As the conversation wound down and I started to head to the elevator, the person said, “What if it isn’t all true?”  

I wheeled around and went back to the counter and we had a pretty engaging conversation for about 10 more minutes.

That got me thinking – how would my life be, how would your life be, if all the things we know about God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Word, sin, salvation, eternity, heaven, hell, forgiveness, peace, spiritual gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, etc. were not true?  

Essentially, how different would your life be without God?

That night, I thought about my Dad. He was a first-generation Christian. His parents grew up “churched” but really did not know Jesus as the Forgiver and Leader of their lives. They had gone to church when they were young but hadn’t gone for years. Dad was a beer-drinking, smoking, swearing, movie-going, card-playing guy who had been confirmed in his “Churchianity” but never met Jesus till he was 16, in 1941. And when he did, everything changed. Everything changed, so much so, that all of my four other siblings knew nothing of living apart from a “Christian home.”

That night, for me, in the hotel, I thought about what if I had never met the Lord. I thought about how different my life would have been, to this point. I pondered early into the morning hours about how the whole trajectory of my life would have been so different if the things of God were not true.

No way would I have been a pastor. I would have been a cop or a truck driver or involved with automobiles somehow. I wouldn’t have met Lori and had a Godly wife and extended family. I might have known comfort in life from hard work, but I doubt I would have known satisfaction that only comes from following the Lord. I might have known peace but not peace that really satisfies in times of trouble or difficulty. I might have known comfort, but not the Godly comfort that enables one not to face hardships and heartache, alone.  

What if all this wasn’t true? I would not know so many wonderful people who have had an impact on me for the things of God. People who taught me in a good way. People who taught me what to do. People who have served as examples of what not to do. If the things of the Lord were not true my whole life would likely be like some of my friends on our street. Good people, people who would help you out whenever you need it, but people who by and large are just living for now and trying to get ahead in life.

I am so thankful that Jesus was born — which we celebrate on Christmas Day. I am so thankful He was willing to make Himself nothing and come to this earth to live a sinless life and ultimately give His life for my sin and for the sins of the whole world. I am so thankful I have heard the truth of God — that I fall short of His perfection, that I have sinned and I need a Savior, and that God the Father has provided the Savior to allow me to acknowledge my sins and receive the cleansing that only the Perfect sacrifice, Jesus, could bring, that He gives direction, purpose, and meaning for life now and provides eternity with Him forever in Heaven! I, like you, have much to be thankful for this Christmas season.

That conversation with the person at the hotel counter has stuck with me. I think of it often and have asked the Lord to direct my steps in this Christmas season to people who may be wondering about Christ this year. Maybe they don’t say it the same way or think of it in the same way, but my prayer has been, “Lord, lead me to the people you are working on and help me be able to share the light you have shone me in Christ Jesus!” Maybe this prayer, or one similar, could be yours this Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas!

~ Jonathan