IF

Written By John W Lightfoot Sr

October 11, 2009

LORD, may the words on these pages become spiritually magnified by you. And allow those
who read it to be filled with your blessed knowledge and gracious Holy Spirit. This I sincerely
ask in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior, Amen.
Now you may be asking yourself, “Why would he simply title a spiritual message the word,
“IF”? It’s at the end of this message that I will reveal in my personal revelation of “IF”. But
before I begin the actual message, pause with me as I turn a bit secular and define the word IF.
Looking back at our past English class school daze, we were taught the word was used as a
conjunction; giving examples, “in that case”, “even though”, “whether”, “when or
whenever”. Or we were taught to use the word as a noun, meaning “supposition”, “an
uncertain possibility”, “a condition”, “requirement”, and/or “stipulation”. Or perhaps you
and I can recall the word If being defined as an Idiom, wherein we used an excuse to our teacher
for not turning in our homework and his/her reply was, “I will not accept any IF’S, ANDs or
BUTs!”. However, throughout the Bible, Our Lord uses the word IF, as he pleases using all of
these previously defined phases.
Now as I begin my message, you may desire to refer to your personal Bible, as this has written
with reference from the King James Version. And if so, begin at Second Chronicles, Chapter 7,
and Verses 12 thru 20. And it reads:
12: And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer,
and have chosen this place to myself as a house of sacrifice.”
13: If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or If I command the locusts to devour the land,
or if I send pestilence among my people;
14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek
my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin and will heal their land.”
15: Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this
place.”
16: For now I have chosen and sanctified this house that my name may be there forever, and
mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.”
17: And as for thee, If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do
according to all that I commanded thee, and shall observe my statues and judgments;
18: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with
David thy father, saying, there shall not fall thee a man to be ruler in Israel.”

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19: But If ye turn away, and forsake my statues and my commandments, which I have set
before you and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20: Then will I pluck them up by the roots If my land which I have given them, and this
house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be
a proverb and a byword among all nations.”
Praise and Glory to God’s Holy Words!
Now, we know Solomon was the son of King David. And that David was the original architect
for the Lord’s Holy Temple. And we know David’s own life story with the Lord is exciting and
extraordinary. But God being a righteous judge, and to summarize, told David that he had shed
much blood during many battles, and would no longer be the chosen one to complete the temple.
But the Lord, also a forgiver of sins, added that a son of David would become the builder of
God’s Holy abode and he also would become the King of Israel. That son was Solomon.
So it was written that Solomon, with God’s blessing, along with thousands of blessed and skilled,
gifted Israelites proceeded to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. And
it must be noted that descriptions contained in the Bible of the temple’s construction provides
today’s historians blessed ability to illustrate its magnificent beauty.
Bless the Lord!
However, the point of this message “IF” is to stress the choice our God’s son, our Lord Jesus
Christ provides to both believers and non-believers. In John 12th Chapter, Verse 26, our Lord
Jesus Christ tells us:
26: If any man serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be
If; any man serves me, him will my Father honor.
And to show Christ had a brief earthly man-side, turn your Bible to Luke Chapter 22, Verse 42:
42: Saying Father, If thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done.
Jesus, however, is the Lamb of God who sacrificed his blood in turn for our afflictions and sins.
And on the Third Day he arose, not only in fulfillment what was written, but to offer opportunity
to each of us, IF we choose, true peace and eternal life.
My Daughter, who is an associate Minister at a local church, once advised me that Jesus is not an
ATM. However, my response is now contrary to her counsel. For Holy Father is most assuredly
an ATM. He’s an “ALL Time Messiah”, 24/7, deliverer of our every need and liberator of all our
every sin If we’ll just seek his forgiveness and abide by his sacred rules. He’s an on time God!
But God’s proposition of IF, does not give us an opportunity of truth or consequences, as the old
television show was titled. But rather, it offers to all of us truth and consequence.
IF we accept, believe and sincerely turn to Jesus Christ in seeking forgiveness for our sins, and
observe his statues and judgments, he in turn assures us eternal life with him in Heaven. That is

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the assured truth. But, IF, we reject his Holy offer, we will be condemned to eternal strife and
misery or more plainly stated, Hades! That is the assured consequence.
We people while on this earth, must seek and follow Jesus Christ’s teachings and accept his
precepts. No more IF, but WILL! We must spread his word to all man and womankind, all
nations. Encourage believers and infiltrate non-believers. In doing so, do it with spiritual eager,
but loving patience, with the truthful education of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, may this brief message be magnified by you, and may the words become matter to turn
anyone in seeking your forgiveness for their sins and converting and/or returning them to
your Holy environment. This I pray in the holy of holiest Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior…Amen!
Now, I invite you to read further while I reveal the true message behind my title IF. And please
understand as it begins, that I was taught from birth (thanks to parents and grandparents) to know
God. But like many of us might have done, I only called on the Lord when necessary, or more
precisely, I prayed when it was convenient. I will also add that some cities, places (though I may
drop hints here and there) and people’s name will be omitted. Although, their names remain a
constant thought in my heart and prayers each day that God keeps me alive on his Holy earth.
And some additional background to my personal message is being purposely omitted to maintain
briefness. But the main purpose of this message in its entirety is to perhaps bring people over to
the Lord’s side and confess how he truly brought me over.
I’m an Ohio native, and lived here 55 0f my 57 years of age. Before I left Ohio during that two year stint, I had lost
my 34 year local employment, and I was in dire need of an immediate prescription. That was my first introduction to
God’s power. But I must admit that I was either unaware or unthankful. I had contacted a neighborhood police
department and was directed to the Vineyard Church. A member there did assist me with acquiring the needed
medication. Through grateful and thankful, my greater intent was moving on with my single-minded business in
hand.

The latter year of 2006, Waterford, Texas became home, as I trained to become an over-the-road truck driver. For
this, I give thanks to God for having a dear Sister and family, who provided the required tuition to accomplish such
a goal. It was there in Texas, God led me to a blessed Church, New Hope Baptist, which became as I term as “a pit
stop for sacred fill-up”. I say it was a blessing because I began to feel a particular peace whenever I attended, for
the congregation and the sermons seemed to encourage me to apply certain aspects to my life.

But as life would have it, while during a trucking delivery, I re-woke following an eight day span of being
unconscious at a hospital in Evansville, Indiana, stricken with Type 2 Diabetes. Following discharge, I was advised
that Federal Transportation Code (FTC) prohibited me from driving commercial trucks due to my need for insulin
injections. And it was then; I began to blame our Holy Father for my misgivings. Though now, let it be known to all
I give thanks to the lord for providing breath to me each day I live and allowing me this allotted time to show my
love for him.

The trucking therefore, did pay for my bus fare back to Weatherford, Texas. And the son of the Pastor from New
Hope Baptist met me at the Greyhound stop, provided me with a meal at a nearby restaurant, and paid for my one
night stay at a motel, to be picked up by a truck the following morning to be driven back to the company terminal,
located in Lancaster, Texas. And again, I was grateful and thankful. But I still maintained that sinful grudge against
our Holy Father. I even inwardly held a well known chant, “why me Lord, why me?”

The next day at the trucking terminal I was formally released, but the company also paid for my bus fare to
California in hopes that I could enroll in a Medical program at UCLA Medical Center that would assist me in
managing my diabetes. They had even arranged a sponsor to meet me there and help me get acquainted with

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Southern California life. Now I was beginning to lighten my grudge against God, Even occasionally giving him
praise for what he was about to do for me, lifting me up from this valley to the mountain.

Although I had made numerous trucking deliveries in the Los Angeles Metro area, this particular situation made me
feel very timid and apprehensive. I was advised by a hospital staff that my expected sponsor had been rehabbed into
a drug dependency group. It was then again that I began again to redoubt God’s alliance. I did however; meet a
wonderful woman who owned and managed group homes, whom offered me residence in one of her homes which I
immediately accepted. I even became one of the cooking chefs for the other residents. And it also was during my
residence there that I applied and received Social Security due to my disability, though it did require more serious
medical illnesses. I experienced two strokes. And for matters that would take too long to explain, in the spring of
2008, I was temporarily evicted for four day from which the house I dwelt. Days of which, I finally gave into the
Lord’s Steps.

Being homeless in California was fretful and intimidating. I was virtually scared. But here I was, with only a
grocery cart and a trash bag of items I felt needed. And all that I can particularly remember is finally crying,
praying, and crying. I finally stopped to rest on a street curb, still crying and praying to the Lord. That’s when I
recalled 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 7; Verse 14, and praying to God that I had enough and his will be done, not my
own.

As I made my way to a store, one which I made a point to shop the first of each month, and which I simply refer to
as the “Super W”, I began to strongly feel that this prayer had been heard by the Lord and all I needed was to stand
still and know.

And as I sat there within the resting area of the “Super W” with my grocery cart and bag, an associate stopped by
and sat next to me. Without saying a word and apparently seeing my depression, he simply walked away and soon
returned with a meal from “Big Mc” (a restaurant contained within the” Super W”) and privately gave me sixty
dollars. That was God’s first notice to me, and I must stress that I did thankfully repay him.

That night, I spent rest at a nearby bus stop, where I became somewhat frightened (after all the area was known for
drug activity) a SUV stopped by, occupied by three young women, whose names I never obtained. They inquired
why I was lounging there and offered to take me to a homeless shelter. I declined their offer, but unaware, they each
gave me five dollars. That was God’s second notice to me!

The next morning, with my grocery cart on loan and my trashed items, I returned to the “Super W” smoking area
and was approached by the “Big Mc” day manager. Again, no name, but I recall his accent was certain Spanish.
He confirmed my name was Lightfoot, left and returned with a Big Mc Breakfast Meal. Certainly, that was God’s
third notice to me!

Mid-noon approached, and I was advised by the “Super W” store manager that my presence was becoming a
distraction to their customers. So she ordered me to withdraw from the premises, but in doing so, she gave me five
dollars…God’s fourth notice to me!

I was further depressed, but made my way across the street to another shopping strip and sat on the curb nearby a
cigarette store. A lady came out and told me if I remained here, she would return, and did. She then gave me twenty
dollars. I truly knew, this was God’s fifth notice. I did ask for this dear woman’s name and address, as I intended to
repay her for this effort, and she obliged.

Then I walked to the nearby grocery store to purchase a lunch meal and ready-made food dinner. On the way, I
walked past a rather well-dressed gentleman loading his trunk with groceries. He stopped me, and without asking,
reached into his wallet and gave me twenty dollars…no need to mention, God’s fifth notice to me!

Using a phone card, I made a long distance back to Ohio and talked to a dear friend and former vice-president at
the corporation I had worked, I explained the troubles and he agreed to wire me the money needed that would allow
me to return to the group home and acquire some much needed prescriptions. I will admit that I still owe this God
given gentleman a rather hefty repayment as promised. And now that I have been blessed with an additional Social

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 settlement, he shall receive it as soon as it arrives. My own personal and seventh notice: never turn away from
those angels who the Lord turns you way to help you through troubling times.

It was also during those lowly times that I recalled another statement by my loving daughter. She advised me that “I
must make Jesus my personal Savior. Prior to that time, my heart’s response was “oomph-Okay”. But now
following these past experiences, I can only say “Bless the Lord, Oh my Soul”, “He has done Great Things”, and “I
Surrender All”.

Now, I am not saying my submission to Jesus has made me perfect; by no means. For like us all, and being humanly
imperfect, not a day goes by that I still not commit sins. But having the Lord as your personal Savior makes one
ever more conscious to follow his ways and seek immediate forgiveness for sins.

On May 20th, 2009, my Mother was called to God, following a three year battle with Alzheimer. I can only give
Thanks to the Lord for allowing me to return to Ohio and visit her before her ultimate return to God’s hands. There
at her gravesite, placed alongside with her Mother and Father, I made a silent prayer to God, her, and my
Grandparents. While growing up, it was my Mother’s hope that I would become a Minister (as I’m proud to say my
Daughter has chosen to do so). My silent prayer to Mother and my Grandparents was to let them know I did not
become the Pastor of a Church as hoped, but I now have turned my entire life to Jesus Christ; again perhaps not
perfectly, but I have surrendered All!