WHAT? THERE ARE CONDITIONS?

By Jay Pearson

 

Many challenge God as being inconsistent or not being at all. Christian and non-Christian alike have struggled with questions of why God does this or does not do that. The non-Christian say God isn’t real because this doesn’t happen or that does. The Christian’s faith falters when he thinks God didn’t keep his promise he stated in his Word, in a certain verse. They feel God doesn’t love them or he isn’t listening.

God hears us just fine. They are just deaf to his condition set before them. At times I’m just as guilty. We are often blinded by a sentence and not opening our eyes to the context of his Word and what he had written. He makes it very plain. We only need to approach the Word in prayer for revelation from the Holy Spirit. God has a promises for what he says. He also states his conditions. He states the consequence that follows when those conditions are or are not met. Do’s and Don’ts – you may and you may not – if you do and if you don’t. Let’s look now at a pattern God has set throughout his Word of letting you know what he wants and what are the consequences that follow your actions.

Genesis 2:15
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

(Our purpose to take care of God’s gift to us and keep it.)

Genesis 2:16
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

(You may)

Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

(You may not and the consequence if you do)

This pattern is consistent throughout the Word of God.

Revelation 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

(If any man take / consequence / God will take)

We looked near the beginning and near the end of the Word. Now let’s pick a chapter in the middle – Proverbs chapter two – and follow the pattern of conditions and consequences.

Proverbs 2:1
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

(If – condition)

Proverbs 2:2
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

(Condition)

Proverbs 2:3
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

(Condition)

Proverbs 2:4
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

(Condition)

Proverbs 2:5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

(Then when conditions are met)

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

(God’s part)

Proverbs 2:7
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

(God’s part 2:7a  / condition 2:7b)

Proverbs 2:8
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

(God’s part 2:8a / condition 2:8b)

Proverbs 2:9
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

(Then when all conditions are met / then the promise)

Proverbs 2:10
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

(Condition)

Proverbs 2:11
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

(When condition of 2:10 are met then the result/consequence follows)

Proverbs 2:12-19
12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

(Result/consequence of doing)

Proverbs 2:20
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

(Purpose)

Proverbs 2:21
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

(God’s absolute promise)

 

 

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Presented September 23, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana