JUST SUPPOSE
Just suppose that when you were growing up you were hated by your brothers, sold into slavery, lied about and cast into prison. And suppose you had to languish in that cell for months on end. Would you still have faith in God? Joseph did!
Just suppose that you were called by God to preach a very unpopular message– God’s wrath. Suppose the people got up in arms and vented their anger against you. What if they lied and tried to take away your life? Would you still have faith in God? Jeremiah did!
Just suppose you were called upon to marry a harlot. To this union a daughter and two sons were born. Suppose that once again she became an adulteress, and you had to buy her back for the price of a common slave. Would you still have faith in God? Hosea did!
Just suppose you were called upon to stand before a king and rebuke him for his sin. And suppose that in obedience to the will of God you performed your task only to learn that your head would be chopped off. Would you still have faith in God? John did!
Just suppose that you learned very suddenly that your religious convictions were wrong. And suppose that as a result of being true to the light you found you were cut off from your brethren. Suppose you gave up everything and then discovered that you were persecuted, whipped, beaten, stoned and cast into prison for your beliefs. Would you still have faith in God? Paul did!
Just suppose that you lived a perfect life, loved all men, always did God’s will, sought to serve instead of being served, and then you were nailed to a cross to die. Would you still have faith in God? Jesus did!
Just suppose the church isn’t friendly, that people didn’t appreciate you, that nobody comes to visit you, that you lose your health, that you go bankrupt. Would you still have faith in God?
John Gipson
Sixth and Izard Church of Christ; Little Rock, Arkansas