What If?

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

- Romans 8:5

I don’t know about you, but it can be difficult for me to put to death some of the mistakes of my past. “If only” I would have not lashed out in anger at the kids. “If only” I would have told the truth and not blamed my sister. “If only” I would have not been so selfish and stopped to help that woman. “If only” twenty five years ago, I would have not… (fill in the blank).

Satan wants nothing more than to remind us of the mistakes of our past. And when we continue to live in the mistakes of the past, we’ll die before we die.

Jesus sees so much potential in us when we choose to live by the Spirit and begin to ask ourselves “what if”... I could use what I’ve learned through my past for good?

One of my favorite examples of this is Alice Cooper, the “Godfather of Rock.” Although Cooper was the son and grandson of Pastors, fame led him on a rocky road of alcoholism and drug addiction. It wasn’t until his wife and children left that he surrendered his life to Christ.

When he told his Pastor that he’d quit his career, his Pastor challenged him to use his platform to reach others. "Look where He (God) put you. What if you're Alice Cooper, but what if you're now following Christ and you're a rock star but you don't live the rock life? Your lifestyle is now your testimony." What if?

That began a new journey for Cooper, but he didn’t stop there. That “what if” led him to open a faith-based non-profit organization called “Solid Rock” in Phoenix to help troubled teens. Not only does the center offer free lessons in the arts, but also counseling, sports, and an opportunity to find purpose for their lives rather than being on the streets. Because “Solid Rock” is known as such a safe place, many of those teens show up on Sunday morning for a church service, because Cooper also loans the space to Genesis church. What if?

Jesus has so much potential for you and me, no matter how many mistakes we’ve made in the past.  So will you dream with me? What if we begin to fully live in the Spirit and allow God to transform those broken pieces of our life into good.

I can only imagine how lives will be changed! What if??

Pastor Pam

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