IF. IF. IF.

By Dr. Eric C. Stumpf, Senior Pastor

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church – Munster, IN

Matthew 4:1-11 + Lent 1 (A) + 10 February 2008  

             A very successful man and his wife were driving on their vacation.  The gentleman saw that he needed gas and pulled off the interstate and followed the signs to a gas station which was out in the middle of nowhere.  As he was filling the tank his wife went in to see if there were any refreshments she could buy.  The husband finished filling the tank and went in to pay the bill.  He found his wife and the gas station attendant in friendly conversation laughing together.  He paid the bill and together the husband and wife left the station.  The attendant waved to his wife and said, “Hey, it was great seeing you again.”  As they drove off, the husband asked his wife why she was having such a friendly conversation with the gas attendant.  She told him how they had gone to school together, dated each other for over a year.  The husband smiled and said, “Boy, lucky for you that I came along.  If you had married him, you’d be the wife of a gas station attendant rather than the wife of a chief executive officer.”  In less time than it takes to tell, the wife replied, “Dear, if I had married him, he’d be the chief executive officer and you’d be the gas station attendant.”  That is a powerful “if.”

 If

            “If” makes people think.  Historians like to play that game.  “If’ the Spanish Armada had not been destroyed in a storm, how would have history changed?  “If” the South had won the Civil War, or Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated, how would our nation been changed?   Sometimes we think of the “if” factor when we read the news.  “If” a career criminal had not been paroled, would the person he killed soon after be still alive?  Sometimes we look at the events in our life.  “If” I had taken the other job, how would my life have changed?  “If” I had spent more time with my parents, or my children, or if I had married someone else, would things be different?  “If” I had my life to do over, I would have studied harder in school, or if I had ignored people who told me I can’t do this or that, maybe I could have accomplished more in my life.  I think everyone would like to correct a few things in their life.  Knowing that, the devil found a basis for his temptation with Jesus. 

Jesus’ Mission

            Jesus knew what his mission was.  God’s Son born a human came to stand in our place, take our sins upon himself, pay the full penalty for us, and rise from the dead so we would not die eternally.  He also knew this was not going to easy.

            His disciples would misunderstand him.  The Pharisees would call him a blasphemer and plan his death.  The Roman government would wash their hands of his blood.  In the last 24 hours of his life he would be betrayed by a friend, denied by another, deserted by his followers, arrested, beaten, spit on, crowned with thorns, whipped, accused falsely, condemned, and crucified to death.  Jesus faced his future alone in the wilderness.  Then Satan came.  

Satan’s Ifs

            Three times Satan spoke.  Did you hear what Satan kept saying?  If you are the Son of God, show me, turn stones to bread.  If you are the Son of God, do one really big miracle right here in the temple area and people will be impressed.  If you are the Son of God and really want to win all the kingdoms of the world, I’ll make it easy, you can avoid the agony, misery, torture, the cross, and even death, just worship me.

            What would you have done?  I have to confess that I fall victim to far smaller temptations, and would have failed here as well.  I know me.  Given a chance I go faster than I should, pick the biggest pork chop on the serving plate, speak when I should keep my mouth shut.  I’m a sucker to Satan’s suggestions, and you probably are too.  Maybe my temptations are not yours, but Satan knows your weak spots too, and exploits them well.  I suppose after thousands of years of unbroken successes, Satan thought Jesus as a man would be easy as well.  He was hungry and he wanted to succeed.  Who wouldn’t want to change the dark moments of our lives, if given a change? 

Jesus Is the One

            Jesus saw through Satan’s temptations like clear glass.  He knew any package postmarked from hell would come wrapped in a pretty bow.  He refused to rewrite his life and what he would face.  He refused the easy way.  He turned to the cross so we would not suffer eternally for our sins.  If he had not, our future would be very different.  Jesus bore our grief and carried our sorrow.

            There is a possibility that you don’t agree.  You would rather go with the world.  You see evil seeming to succeed.  You see unbelievers whooping it up and living life large.  You see Christians struggle like others with the same problems.  If God is so good why doesn’t he make it better, especially for those who believe?  If God is love, how could anyone be sent to hell?  Yeah, Satan has some pretty good “if” questions that can drive a wedge between you and God.

            Let me give you another “if.”  If the Bible is right when it says, There is salvation in no one else other than Jesus; for there is no other name under heaven…by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), what’s going to happen to your soul, where will you spend eternity?  If there is going to be a Judgment Day – and there will – and some will have eternal life and others will have eternal death, what will you receive?  If is a powerful word, isn’t it?

            Do you ever think about the ifs in your life?  Do you have some regrets, desires to redo certain events in your life, a desire for a mulligan?  If Scripture is right – and it is – then those who turn their back to the Lord in disbelief are making the biggest mistake in their life.  But it doesn’t have to be that way for you, or your friend, or for a family member, or a co-worker.  Jesus wants you to have life and to have it abundantly.  He is the one who won it and gives it freely to you and to all.  Even now the Holy Spirit works through the Word to strengthen your faith and to bring you to faith.  He also wants to use his faithful people to share that good news with others. 

 Amen.

SDG