If only…

If only I knew then what I know now. I would have walked a better path, one of more righteous living. I would have recognized sin at face value and sought the truth of redemption. I would have fostered relationships of fellowship instead of faulty friendships of fair weather. I would have remembered lessons learned instead of fighting through hurt after hurt. I would have grasped the Lord’s hand that was reaching instead of demanding forgiveness after each stumble. If only I knew the truth in the definition of a believer.

There is too much apostasy and fair-weather believers these days and some people shrug their shoulders saying that one day this or that will come to this or that, but then others say that only if this or that, etc.

I have fallen victim to pointing fingers and saying “if only” when I really should be focusing on myself, my family, and my mission. My mission isn’t to call people out unless the spirit deems it so, but to be a light and not only  in convenience or argumentative stances. I am called to be a light at all times, without stipulations and without criteria.

Only isn’t an option. Always is the way to be. God isn’t good only when things are all right in the world, because then we would be waiting a long time. He isn’t only good when we get that job, the house, the guy or the trophy. God is good all the time.

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Taking an only stance really limits us. We need to take the Lord’s stance on what His will is directing us towards. We reflect back and begrudge our faults, but without these refining moments, we would not be at the season that we are in. I know that we all have a heart to go back and fix some wrong in the past, and being human the Lord doesn’t scoff at us, but He does not want us to live in the past and hang our heads in shame. He doesn’t bless us when we only have lived a pure and clean life. He blesses us along the path to glory and accomplishing His will, in His time, and by His own sovereignty.