Job 13:15-17, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.”
As a preacher with a website ministry, I receive many emails. I love helping people and corresponding with others, the more the better. In my ministry work I hear about many heart breaking stories. A lot of saints are discouraged nowadays because of the ungodly mess that our country is in. I found the following picture recently and I really like it, because it is so true...
So oftentimes in life things don't go as we planned. That has certainly been true in my lifetime. Life is what happens to us while we're making big plans! ...
The preceding passage of Scripture is astounding! The inspired Holy Bible teaches that our troubles, burdens and heartaches are worth more than gold. Wow! I just checked and today's gold price is: $1,969.46. The Bible says that our problems, trials and headaches in life are worth more than gold! But dear reader, how many believers think that way? How many of us as God's children value life's difficulties as being valuable? I admit that I usually don't think that way at first, until I process what has happened, and then I reflect Scripturally over the matter.
1st Peter 1:6-9, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
As I grow older, I am learning to bring my thinking into alignment (agreement) with the Word of God sooner than later, which means that I can find peace of mind sooner than later. This is what Solomon means in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” I often don't understand why things are the way they are, and I'm sure you often feel the same way too. But dear friend, God does understand all things! Even though we cannot see our hand in front of our face sometimes, God knows exactly what will happen tomorrow. Trust the One who sees tomorrow!
I decided long ago that I am going to be like Job, who after losing everything he held near and dear in his life, exclaimed in Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job lost nearly everything! Interestingly, it was God and not Satan who began the wager. In Job chapter one we read that God challenged Job to a gentlemen's bet. ...
Job 1:6-12, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”
I won't go into the full story, but just the highlights. God gave Satan permission to torment Job. We learn several important Scriptural lessons in this tremendous story:
- God has placed a protective hedge around every born again believer (Job 1:10)
- Satan can instigate evil thugs to murder people (Job 1:15)
- Satan can cause lightning to strike and cause fire (Job 1:16)
- Satan can instigate theft, crime and devastating financial loss (Job 1:17)
- Satan can control weather (he killed Job's 10 children with a tornado, Job 1:19)
- Satan can afflict a person's health (he smote Job with boils) if God permits (Job 2:7)
Dear friend, please don't ever place God on trial. I remember a true story a few decades ago. A young couple went off to Bible college. After about one year, the husband was suddenly killed in a horrible tragic car accident. That young man's wife became bitter against God. Her life was turned upside down, like the Poseidon ship. She quit church and told everyone she was now an atheist. Oh, listen dear reader, God loves you! I cannot tell you why things happen as they do. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? The truth is that we are all guilty sinners in God's sight. There Bible says that there are none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). We live in a fallen world because of sin, which began with Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:12).
Everything that God does is right! I don't care what may come your way, you just decide once and for all right now that everything God does is right. I made that important decision many years ago. I refuse to question God. Please don't question God. The most dangerous question you will ever ask God is: “WHY?” We won't know the answers to these questions until we see Christ someday, and then we shall know Him, even as we are known. 1st Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” What a precious promise from God!
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