I. WILL. NEVER. DO. THAT! YOU. HAVE. HEARD. IT. MAYBE. EVEN. USED. IT.
IS. IT. WISE. TO. DO. SO?
Every Wednesday, Jim Foreman, Michael Perkins and I are posting about Gordon MacDonald’s book, Building Below the Waterline. For my first post from last week, you can go here. Advertisement over…back to our regularly scheduled blog.
When I was young and brash (I am no longer young and hopefully that has cured me of most of my brashness), I could be heard saying, “I would never (fill in the blank).” As time moved on and the reality of (real) life kicked in, I found that was not a good statement to use.
“I would never wear jeans to preach in.” Check that one off the list. I do it now.
“I would never reuse a sermon. Fresh is where its at.” Check that one off the list (with modifications of course). 
“I would never resign without another place to go.” Check that one off the list.
Of course, those are minor to bigger ones that make our life miserable. I would never take a drink. I would never smoke. I would never get hooked on painkillers. I would never cheat on my spouse. I would never turn my back on God. I would never swear at God. I would never lost my virginity before marriage. Tons and tons of “I would nevers” could be said.
Frankly, there shouldn’t be a Christ-follower who thinks he/she is above falling flat on the face. Gordon tells again the story of the young German, Matthias Rust, who piloted a rental plane into the heart of the former Soviet Union and landed in Moscow’s Red Square. Using that as a backdrop, he shows how every one of us can fall victim to sin. I call them “sneak attacks” of the enemy. We have already used the “never” word and now the enemy is making sure we will learn to “never” use it again. Gordon’s point is the importance of repentance in the life of the Christ-follower. Here let me have him tell you:
No Christ-following man or woman can feel confident that they are growing if they are not living in perpetual repentance, with a holy sorrow that acknowledges that apart from the power and grace of Christ we will succumb to the evil that abides within until the day Christ returns. (p.35)
Solid advice…for me…for you. Growth happens when we are aware of our weaknesses and take the measures necessary for overcoming them. How about you? Have you ever said “Never?” Do you still? Did you learn from it? Do you have a guard in place now? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to check out Jim’s and Michael’s blog.
I have said the word “Never” so mant times and I still say it. I’ve used it in many cases especially in one of the examples you gave above: “I would never swear at God.” I’ve never done that before and I pray I don’t ever try it.
Another one I’ve said is: “I would never pry into people’s privacy without being called into it”. I’ve gone against it about two or three times. I’ve learned that God’s help is the only way to overcome any weakness.
Only with His help can we overcome Mercy. Saying “never” seems to smack at self-trying. Praying for your strength.
I have certainly had my “nevers” that I said I would not do. I fell into my nevers – as disappointing as it was – I used them to learn from and grow from.
I really try hard now to not say never now – they usually end up in me regretting saying them.
I love your take and direction here. Thanks for the great reminder today Bill.
Been there done that for sure Jim. My saying now is “never say never.” But you have it right, learn from the fall. Thanks for coming by. I love what we are doing here.
I have said “I never” and it was just a few weeks ago. I said I’d never have us sing hymns for worship.
And now we have a worship leader (college student) who loves hymns and modern worship.
PS we sang 2 hymns this weekend.
Reckon that is God’s way of teaching humility?
Thanks Michael.
That story makes me smile – it is just like God isn’t it.
I’ll never get a divorce.
I’ll never run from God.
That phrase has escaped my lips. And I can say that I have learned from my mistakes. I sure don’t want to repeat some of them!
I think the only “I’ll never” that is safe or good to say is that I’ll never stop pursuing Christ. Yes, I’ll mess up along the way…but I don’t want to stop my pursuit.
I can see how those first two would be easy to say but hard to do. but I am also glad you are saying you will never stop pursuing Christ. THAT should never happen! Thanks Craig.
Hi Bill,
One of my ‘nevers’ is that I would never get divorced. Neither my former husband or I wanted a divorce, but that didn’t stop it from happening. There were other things to be considered and weighed in the making of this decision. This doesn’t mean that a ‘price’ does not have to be paid by both my former husband and myself.
You said,
‘Gordon’s point is the importance of repentance in the life of the Christ-follower’.
We can/do fall into sin at times, we need to acknowledge that, however, God’s expectation is that through Christ, and what we have been given by Him (power and grace), we are going to get back up and stop sinning.
Mourning our sin, despising our sin, hating our sin, fighting our sin, getting victory over our sin through the power of Christ is the expectation.
Everything we have in our new life comes through Christ, from Christ, and to Christ. If we leave Christ or try to get victory over sin on our own we have nothing but the works of the flesh that will burn in the testing of these works.
I know divorce happens in spite of our best efforts for it not to. It is also good to know that we can get back up through the power of Christ. Glad you have Linda. Thanks.
I said I would never get divorced, never be a single mom… and many other nevers. Now I’m learning to never say never because I don’t know what the future holds.
Best policy on both fronts Jenn. Never say never and trust Him for the future. Thanks.
I’ve definitely succumbed to the “never do this” phrase, and I’ve failed. What I’ve learned is that it’s about constantly seeking Him. I think Gordon says it best.. living in perpetual repentance
I like what Gordon says also. Thanks for taking the time to come by Jon.
Funny, I had 3 things that I said I would NEVER do. I said I would NEVER go to a Baptist church, NEVER home school my kids, and NEVER live next door to my in-laws. Ironically, I am doing all three and loving every minute of it. God has a humorous way of humbling us.
I thank you for this reminder though. I guess I am learning to never say never.
Yeah, it is sort of funny that God has a sense of humor. Those are some pretty big nevers! Glad, though, that you are adjusting and accepting. Thanks Lori.
Being of the flesh, i don’t think I will never fully be sinless in the eyes of God.
I would never be confident enough to think I have a free ride to the heaven’s kingdom. Too much sin in the flesh or is it thorns in the side.
Only through the grace of Jesus’ judgement and love will I ever be slelcted and that might be never.
I reckon those are good nevers (your first two statements). I refuse to believe the last one.
Thanks Larry.
I have said I would never________ then later do it. For example, one time in my life I said I would never preach but in the last church I was at I often preached at the youth night.
I think this is part of a person growing and changing(Either for good or bad) Never can turn into doing it now.
Great topic!
you are right Dan. Some of this is the growth process we go through. Thanks.