What If? What Now? What Next?

What If?  It's a thought process that we entertain occasionally!

What if....I was rich?
What if....I married a model?
What if....I owned a beach house?
What if....I had a better job?

Why does it seem that we generate a "better" set of circumstances than those we find ourselves in?

Unfortunately "What If" is a fantasy land, a distraction from the facts, a red herring, a mirage, a ghost.  "What If" is better defined as "What Was."   "What Was" defines the facts of our past existence until today.  "What Was" is the true and factual account of our lives.  "What Was" is not negotiable.    If we continually entertain the fantasy scenarios generated by What If, we will never concentrate on the better question....which is....What Now?

What Now is where the rubber hits the road....it is the visceral reality of our lives in the present moment.  What Now is all about today.  What Now is important because.....What Now prepares us for the most important question of all.....which is What Next?

David was the youngest son of Jesse.  David had 7 brothers, all of which were older and more experienced than he was.  In fact, David was doing a job that was one of the most menial and despised jobs in all of Israel.  He was shepherding sheep.  But....David was taking care of What Now.  He took shepherding to a new level!  When the lion and the bear came to kill his fathers sheep....he defended them at his own peril.  He was taking very good care of What Now.

As David was taking care of What Now.....Samuel came looking for him to annoint him as the next King of Israel.  What Next took care of itself!

The same can be said of many Bible leaders.  As they were faithfuly taking care of What Now....What Next took care of itself.  Abraham was just living a righteous life in a foreign country, taking care of What Now...and What Next came calling.   Peter and and Andrew were fishing.....taking care of What Now....when Jesus walked over to them and called them into What Next.

The takeaways for me are:

I waste my time rolling the dice and amusing myself with the fantasy outcomes of "What If."
I would do much better to focus my attention on What Now and make sure that What Now is being done well.
What Next is always up to God and will arrive on time.

For me, this also translates into one more blessing....as I take care of What Now.....I have peace of mind....because I know who will take care of What Next.

PUZZLE PIECES

Have you seen those completed puzzles that have been framed and matted?

10,000 magnificent pieces all in their correct place, each complementing the panoramic scene that is the artist's vision.

I saw one the other day...a magnificent landscape with areas of dark and light, sun and shade. Some areas were bursting with colors, bright and vivid, while others were quite drab, subdued, almost monotone.

.....And inside of me a thought popped up...."That is a picture of the Kingdom."

1) Each puzzle piece is unique in size, shape and color. No two pieces are completely alike.

2) Each puzzle piece complements the others. There is a harmonious "fit" when a piece is placed in right relationship to it's peers.

3) Every single puzzle piece is valuable. A puzzle that includes all 10,000 pieces is valuable. A puzzle with 9,999 pieces is almost worthless.

4) Each puzzle piece contributes to the common goal and final vision of the creator.

5) When just one piece in 10,000 pieces is lost, misplaced, or otherwise absent from the whole, the vision is spoiled and incomplete.

1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

We are not all eyes, or hands, or feet....and if we were, how would the whole benefit and what would the final vision be? And why is there division and disunity over what kind of puzzle piece we may be...or want to be?

We must encourage each puzzle piece to discover it's size, color, calling and gifting. We must encourage each one to take their place in the Kingdom.... completing the intended vision of the creator.