THE LAST RIVER MILE

These are two of the most powerful words in our language. Granted, “What if…?” can lead any of us into obsession over worst case scenarios. Conversely, though, “What if…?” can open up visions of previously unrealized possibilities. The examples throughout history are endless: What if enslaved Africans could become free American citizens? What if human beings could achieve flight? What if Hitler’s Fortress Europe could be invaded and liberated? What if polio could be eradicated? What if the four-minute mile could be broken? What if a computer could be held in the palm of a hand? Breaking the ceiling of these and millions of other impossible barriers began with somebody asking, “What if…?”

Once I was part of a church fellowship whose vision of its future was redirected by asking two key questions: What if people making a commitment to follow Jesus and being baptized was normal on Sunday morning rather than the rare exception? Also, what if we had more people involved in hands on service outside of the walls of the church than inside it? The images evoked by these questions caused us to think about would need to happen in order for the visions to become realities. That guided our priorities and our steps moving forward. And both visions were realized in and through our congregation.

My own story kind of follows a “What if…?” question. What if a deeply introverted, largely unknown, social wallflower who is indifferent to Jesus became a Jesus-follower who is a preacher and teacher, speaking to large groups of people thousands of times over a half century? It all started with a disarming, life-changing question.

Not every “What if…?” results in redefining success. For every one that is transformative, thousands will go nowhere. But what if the one that sticks is worth it all the ones that don’t?

Here’s one – what if an apparently unemployed, itinerant carpenter from some backwoods town, without any theological credentials actually became the risen, conquering Lord?

So where in your life do you need to ask, against all odds, “What if…?”

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.