Gordon Winslow, Jr. - The Big "IF"

Driving down the road today my wife and I began talking about some of our funny stories of our past before we met. We talked about so many different events that took place in our lives, even the ones that shaped who we are today and the ones that took us on the path that led us to be where we stand today.

Like so many people do when looking back on the past, I began to look at some of my decisions and I began to think about the "if".

"If" I would have done this instead of that I would be happier today, "if"� I would have done that instead of this I would be happier today.

"If"� I would have said no instead of yes, "if" I would have said yes instead of no. "If" I would have gone left instead of right, up instead of down, stop instead of go and go instead of stop. I think you get my point.

We all look back and think the big "if"�. So, sitting there across from my wife thinking about the "if"� I opened my mouth to utter what I thought was about to be some negative "if"�, but it was as if God spoke through me in that moment.

I said, "You know I always say that I would have been better off "if"� I would have chosen a different path than what I have chosen (here comes God's part) but, what "if" I hadn't gone down this path."� I might not be in church today. I might not even be a preacher. Looking back on my choices it seems like I could have been better off with a different choice, but what "if"� I did do it the OTHER way.

God spoke to me and said that a lot of people are like that. They look back and think "if"� I could go back and do it all over again. "If" I could just make a different decision. But God told me to tell you that some of you might not be living for God "if"� you would have made the other decision. To take that better paying job, to stay in that city instead of moving.

We must look back at our choices and say they may not look like the best ones, but I know this, today I'm living for God. "If" I would have chosen differently I might not know God like I know him today. I would like to think that "if"� given the choice to choose differently I would still be living for God, but maybe that "other"� path would have led me away from HIM. I want to tell you this, you are living for God NOW, stop worrying about the "ifs"�.


Gordon Winslow Jr.