“I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone” (Bart Millard / Ben Glover / Crystal Lewis / David Garcia / Tim Timmons).

That’s a big difference.

I can speak from the fear side of things. I can’t tell you how many “what if” scenarios have played out in my mind over the years. Most of those didn’t end well at all, and almost none figured God into the outcome. Mostly, it was me thinking it was up to me to work it out (and fail miserably).

But as I found out at a funeral, even if speaks volumes where what if speaks half-truths and deceit. I saw a widow raising her hands in worship in front of her husband’s casket. I saw a couple today who have held strong to faith even after losing their 13-day old baby to a rare infant syndrome.

“Even if” starts from a place of trust where “what if” begins with doubts, as in “What if God really doesn’t come through?”

“Even if” says that if all God ever did for you was to redeem you and rescue you from your sin to a guaranteed future in heaven and did not one single solitary thing more for you, it would still be enough. You would still have reason enough to raise your hands in worship, to live out your worship each day as a declaration of God’s goodness.

“Even if” means that at the very worst possible outcome, you still have God, and God will always be enough. No matter what, nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing can defeat you or destroy you. There is nothing you will ever face that Jesus hasn’t already defeated on the cross.

Ultimately, to live is Christ and even to die is gain. Everything else good is a bonus.