Recently I have been reading a book called, “Primal” by Mark Batterson.  I received it after attending a one-day conference that he lead at Anderson University.  Mark is the senior pastor at National Community Church just outside of Washington, D.C.

The book has been insightful and enjoyable so far, a definite page-turner.  As I read books such as “Primal,” I often keep a notebook nearby so that I can jot down thoughts that come to me while reading, new concepts I want to research further, and action steps I’m feeling convicted to take as a result of my reading.  This morning’s sermon at The Mount reminded me of some notes I made recently on “Counterfactual History.”  That was a totally new concept to me when I read about it a couple weeks ago, and it intrigued me.  Basically, counterfactual theory is asking the question, “What if ” in contrast to something we already know has occurred.  For example, we could invoke counterfactual history by asking what our lives might be like if Henry Ford never invented the automobile?  How would the world change in the absence of that piece of history?  What if the Wright Brothers had not discovered the means to fly?  Would we still be relegated to crossing the ocean on a ship?  By the way, what if God hadn’t shown Noah how to build a boat? Wasn’t that the very first ocean liner?  The purpose of employing counterfactual theory is to gain a deeper appreciation for what really did happen and how history actually unfolded.

This morning, Allan posed the question, “What if God hadn’t intervened in Saul’s life and initiated his conversion?” (Acts 9:1-19Acts 9:1-19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Saul Becomes a Follower of the Lord ^{9 1} Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest ² and asked for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way. d accepted the Lord's Way: In the book of Acts, this means to become a follower of the Lord Jesus. ³ When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?” ⁵ “Who are you?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.” ⁷ The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, ⁹ and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink. ¹⁰ A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.” ¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, ¹² and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so that he could see again.” ¹³ Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.” ¹⁵ The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.” ¹⁷ Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ Then he ate and felt much better. Saul Preaches in Damascus For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus.

WP-Bible plugin) How many more Christians would have been persecuted?  How many more would have been killed?  How would our lives be different if Saul had never become Paul?  (For one thing, we’d be missing about 13 books in the New Testament and a plethora of rich Scripture passages!!)  And what if Ananias hadn’t obeyed when God called him to seek out Saul of Tarsus at the house of Judas in Damascus on Straight Street so Saul’s sight could be restored? (vs. 13-17)  Saul was known for arresting and persecuting anyone who called upon God’s name.  What if Ananias’ fear outweighed his faith?  Can we even fathom how different our lives would be today if God hadn’t intervened, if Ananias hadn’t been obedient?

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of such stories throughout the Bible of how one person’s willingness to intervene and obey had a world changing impact!  Think of Noah’s righteousness and how he found favor with God.  He was the only man found worthy when God wiped out the rest of the human race in the flood.  What if Noah hadn’t lived righteously?  What if there was no one who survived the great deluge?  Quite possibly, I wouldn’t be typing this, and you wouldn’t be reading it!

The example that Mark Batterson uses in “Primal” to illustrate his point about Counterfactual History is the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis.  As you know, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers after they got ticked off at the way their father, Jacob, showed favoritism to Joseph.  In fact, they led Jacob to believe Joseph had been killed by wild animals when they dipped his precious robe of many colors in goat’s blood.  A domino effect was in motion that I’d like to recount for you using counterfactual theory:

1. What if Joseph had not been sold by his Israelite brothers into slavery in Egypt?
2. What if Joseph had never been thrown into prison while in Egypt?
3. What if, while in prison, Joseph hadn’t noticed the upset countenance of his fellow inmate, the cupbearer?
4. What if he hadn’t interpreted the cupbearer’s dream?  (The cupbearer would not have known Joseph could do that!)
5. And without that relational link, Joseph would have never been brought to Pharaoh to interpret his dream after the cupbearer was restored to his position upon release from prison. Joseph may have died in that dungeon had events unfolded differently.
6. What if Joseph had not been promoted to second highest in command in Egypt prior to the great famine?  He would not have been in a position to store up enough grain to sustain Egypt as well as surrounding areas that came to Egypt for food during the famine.
7. One of those surrounding areas from which people came was Canaan, where Joseph’s family was from, otherwise known as the nation of Israel.  What if Joseph’s family had not survived the famine?
8. One of Joseph’s brothers was Judah.  What if he had died during those seven lean years of famine?  He never would have gone on to father the lineage out of which a Child would be born in a little town called Bethlehem.  And then, the big “What if” question…
9. What if Jesus had never been born? Then, perhaps, the greatest act of compassion and intervention the world has ever known might never have occurred.

We can see and learn by this that one act of compassion, one act of intervention, one act of obedience really does make a difference on the world.  And we all have opportunities to show kindness, to intervene, and to obey God everyday, so that we may continue to impact and change the world for His glory.  What opportunity lies before you today that has the potential to ripple into eternity if you just yield and obey?  Whatever it is, I encourage us all to seize the moment, because I would never want someone to spend their eternity separated from God asking, “What if someone I knew had only shared Jesus with me?”