Bottom line up front: The Crucial Significance of If

Text: Three is an important and pervasive number in Scripture. God is called holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). After his crucifixion, Jesus was buried; three days later, he arose, just as he had said (Matthew 28:6). Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). God is triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God in three persons). Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times (Luke 22:34). Again, again, and again, we see that God uses three often in Scripture.

Context: It’s the same pattern in Proverbs 2, in just the first few verses. The word if is used three times to show the condition of God’s wisdom for all who might receive it. “My son, if you receive my words …” (Proverbs 2:1, ESV). And in verse three, “yes, if you call out for insight” (Proverbs 2:3, ESV) and the following verse read, “if you seek it like silver …” (Proverbs 2:4, ESV).

How clear is that? If denotes that a condition must be met. If this, then that. But only if.

Encouragement/takeaway: Over and over and over, God calls out with offers to all who will hear and obey. If, if, if … Who will respond in repentance and faith? That is God’s knowledge alone. Our job is to be obedient to herald the truth. Those who respond in repentance and faith will be saved. Those who refuse will receive justice. No one receives non-justice. Some receive grace and others harden themselves. Again, again, and again, you see that pattern in Scripture.

I’ve been in ministry—military and civilian—for decades now. I’ve seen God grip men and women and make them tender to the truth. I met with a young man even this very week who is planning to leave his position of command in the Army to enter the Christian ministry as a chaplain and pastor.

I’ve also seen men and women over my decades in ministry who hardened themselves and went a very different direction; they hated God and embraced an anti-God lifestyle. That is the way it goes. But there that little grammatical conjunction is again, and again, and again in Scripture: If.