What If You're Wrong?

Bob

"Everyone thinks their own opinion is the right one. If they didn't, they'd get a new one." (Madeleine L'Engle)

From an early age, I knew what I wanted in life: A wife and children, a college education in science or engineering, a career where I could use my education, and a home of my own. In that order. This was my version of the "American Dream!" I played it straight and worked hard to get these things. And by age 30 I had all of them! I was sooooo happy - especially with my wife and children! But one morning while I was congratulating myself on successfully (or so I thought!) figuring out the purpose of life, a soft voice spoke to my heart.

What if you're wrong?

It was soft as falling snow.
But it hit me like a ton of bricks!
And for the first time ever I realized that each of the things I treasured was only temporary.
Because one day ...

  • My wife would grow old and die.
  • My children would grow up and leave home.
  • My career would end.
  • My home would decay or be torn down.

I remember thinking, "There's got to be more to life than this! I need to find the truth! But how? The people who claim to know the truth (preachers, rabbis, priests) can’t even agree among themselves! And besides, I don't want to hear their "party line!" I want to know the truth! I guess my only alternative is to start reading the Bible for myself."

I had read parts of the Bible while in college, but not for the right reasons. I just liked the majestic language in Isaiah and Psalms. But now I started reading it to learn the truth. I soon discovered that it was the most accurate diagnosis of human nature – particularly my own nature – that I had ever seen! It read me like a book! Whenever I found something in the Bible that I disagreed with it (which was extremely often!) I would say, “Honestly, my opinion makes more sense to me than Yours. But if I am wrong, please show me. I want to know the truth.” I lost every argument! And I quickly became a "poster child" for Psalm 81:10 : "I AM the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."

After a year of this I was convinced beyond all doubt. And I had a new flickering flame in my heart. The best part was that I didn’t receive a second-hand faith from my parents or a preacher. I got it first-hand from God’s Word, without any denominational bias. And I believed it because I had argued it out and wrestled with every point of doubt. So although my Christian life started late, it started RIGHT! Years later I told God,

"You would have been justified to give up on me. Why did you persist in chasing after me for all those years?"

Because I knew you would respond.