IF function with a condition from reference cell

Dear friends, I'm trying to write a formula that would filter data from one column based on condition entered in a cell.
This one works great with single numbers or text in a reference cell:
=IF((a2=C$3);a2;"") copied down the column

but if I try to filter all numbers greater than 2 (I eneter ">"&2 in cell c3) it doesnt work. Please help. Is it possible with if formula or should I use something else?

Thank you in advance

Of course, but I would like to have an universal formula that can calculate >c3, <c3, =c3 depending on what I need at the moment.

Should trick be in the cell c3, or can I create another cell with logic sign?

do you maybe know the way excel can take into account reference cell that has something like >45 or >&45 written inside, perhaps with indirect function?