What If It Were You?

In the gospel of Mark, John the Immerser is introduced by describing his role in the preparing the way for the Lord.

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” (Mark 1:2,3).

John was a wonderful man who lived in service to the Lord. He kept himself pure. He stood up to the sins of the spiritual leaders of the day. He stood up to the sins of the King. He did his job and he did it well. He was faithful until death. He died at the hands of the very King and Queen he opposed because of their adultery. John was truly a wonderful soldier. Jesus praised him highly in Matthew 11:11 saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” What an amazing statement! When the Son of God says you are the greatest man born that is saying something.

There are many wonderful lessons we could learn from John, his parents and his life’s work. However, my question today is not about John, his baptism, his preparation for Jesus, or his stance against sin that cost him his life. My question is what if it was you that were asked to carry out such a great task for Jesus? What if it were you?

What if you were asked to give a great sacrifice like Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac? Would you be faithful to God?

What if you were asked to stand opposed to Pharaoh like Moses and Aaron and demand “let my people go?” Would you stand strong before him?

What if you were given the opportunity to stand in faith against a giant like Goliath with only a few stones and a sling? Would you understand like David that you were actually fighting for God and He is on your side? Would you run toward Goliath?

What if you were asked to march around the city of Jericho for 7 days rather than use conventional weapons and wisdom to fight your enemy? Would you put your trust in the Lord?

What if you were asked to fight your enemy with only 300 men being completely outnumbered and for weapons you carry pitchers and torches while the enemy had swords, spears and more? Would you come boldly to the outskirts of the camp with truth that the Lord was fighting for you?

What if you were asked by the Father, to give up the glory of heaven, to come to this earth, to live as a man, to be persecuted unmercifully, to be rejected by your own, and to be crucified by your creation? Would you have the dedication to the Father to say, “Not My will, but Thine be done” like Jesus?

I am afraid that too many are like Naaman and think that what we have been asked to do isn’t worthy of us or is too simple. We are asked to worship in spirit and truth. We are asked to tell our friends and family about Jesus. We are asked to be faithful in life and service. Sometimes we act like Naaman. We need someone to remind us that it isn’t beneath us and why do we think we need to be asked to do “some great thing” before we obey the Lord (2 Kings 5).

I am afraid that sometimes we act like Jonah and run and hide from our responsibility. Sometimes we try to pretend like we are doing more than we really are like Ananias and Sapphira. Sometimes we love the world more than Jesus like Demas. Sometimes we elevate ourselves and want preeminence like Diotrephes.

When you examine your life, what do you see? We must examine ourselves to make sure we are living in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Be honest! When you look at your life, are you a soldier like John? Or do we question what we are asked like Naaman or Jonah? What if you were asked to do something for God?

Often we I read my Bible or study a person’s life, I look at their life and their faith, and then I look at my life and wonder how I would act in the same situation. We are so blessed with air condition, plumbing, refrigeration, vehicles, internet, TV, radio and so many other blessings. We could do so much. Yet, a man eating locust and wild honey, wearing camel’s hair and living in the wilderness puts us to shame. What if it were you? Would you be praised by the Lord for your faithfulness?