If You Knew

Have you ever heard someone state, “If I knew back then what I know now, I would have done things differently,” or “Hindsight is 20/20”? Yes, our vision can be much clearer when we reflect on what was and what could have been. These phrases would be spoken less often if we only knew how to address our circumstances in-the-now.

Let’s consider some people who many of us may be familiar with. For instance, when Mike Tyson was at the height of his career in boxing, he knew, and we knew that he would, most likely, knockout his opponent. We just did not know the timeframe. Most of us probably believed that the knockout would occur in a matter of seconds. Tyson’s strength and boxing skills were marveled at!

When Tiger Woods was at the height of his golfing career, he had already won the “mind-game” over his opponents who were intimidated by Woods’ talent, his focus, and his self-confidence. Half of the battle had already been won before stepping onto the green, so all he had to do was play his best game, and win as he did for a very long period of years.

God give us all unique talents and abilities, but what do we do with what God has given us? Do we even recognize those gifts?

So, what did it take for Tyson and Woods to achieve greatness with the gifts they possessed? First, it took a belief about their own skills and abilities. Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) reads, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he, . . .”  These men came to the competitions already thinking of themselves as winners. They already knew what they were physically and mentally capable of doing.

It takes some type of nurturing from a source to develop the skills and self-confidence to approach sports in the manner that Tyson and Woods have done. For Tyson, Cus D’Amato saw promise in Mike Tyson during his youth. D’Amato took him in, encouraged him, and trained him to develop his skills in boxing. On the other hand, Tiger Woods’ father, Earl Dennison Woods, was that guiding figure that cultivated Tiger’s skills to become a legendary golfer.

We, who are Christians, serve the supreme Father of the entire universe!  One of the most meaningful phrases in the bible, to me, is when Jesus said, “If you knew. . .” to the Samaritan woman at the well. She had 5 husbands, and the man she was living with was not her husband. Jesus asked her for a drink of water which demonstrated his love and power that defeated sin and cultural barriers. This astonished the woman that a Jewish man would be speaking to her. Jesus took away her shame! This shunned woman, would be the one to run back to her village to announce that she had met the Messiah! Why would she be the one to share this message with those who shunned her and who knew about her sinful lifestyle?  This woman had had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. She symbolizes our weaknesses/flaws, no matter our backgrounds, who are in sin and in need of a Savior.

I find encouragement in this today:

1. Living water never runs dry. It is always available. Just ask him for it. Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10, NIV).
2. Jesus is waiting to have a conversation with each of us. We are not alone. Revelation 3:20 (NIV) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they will me.”
3. The word of God is our spiritual food. “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
4. Learn about Jesus. Hosea 4:6 (KJV), God states “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, . . .”
5. We are loved. Romans 5:8 (NIV), “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Do not seek temporal gifts that diminish over time. Get to know Jesus for yourself and learn who you are in him. Allow Jesus to nurture you, and help you grow in your knowledge of him so that you understand everything that you possess because of him!

Truth:

James 1:17 (NIV), “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.