Written by Sammy Poole
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Have you ever wondered how life can put such a hurtin'’ on you – when you
least expect it? Job was a man who had the world on a string, and people
throughout the land in which he lived, knew Job; if not personally, certainly by
reputation. He was the richest man in all the east, and when people wanted
words of wisdom, Job was one to whom they could turn.
One day God and Lucifer had an encounter in which Hell’s bad boy told God
that "he had been walking to and fro across the earth seeking those he might
devour."” And when God asked, "Have you considered my servant Job?"” Satan
accused God of "putting a hedge around Job",” thus disallowing the Prince of
Darkness access to him. "Let me at him, and I will have him cursing You to
Your face!” Every man has his price, and Job doesn’t serve You for nothing!"”
That was quite a challenge, but God is always up to the challenge, so he
removed the hedge, opened the gate, and let Satan take his best shots. He
used every militaristic strategy in his arsenal, but to no avail. Even Job'’s wife
ran low on patience, asking her beaten and scarred husband, "Do you
maintain your integrity? Why don’t you just curse God – and DIE?"”
Job’s friends came calling, and they had a book of reasons committed to
memory, as to why Job was suffering. With friends like Eliphaz, Bildad, and
Zophar, a kind-hearted enemy might be a welcome sight! They, no doubt,
meant well; but their ‘distress-side’ manor was lacking.
Job’s health in shambles, his ten children dead, his wealth gone, his friends
talking nonsense, and his wife suggesting he "curse God and die";” well, who
would expect a man to endure such torture? Only God, perhaps, but God
knew Job! And when Job finally says, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and
that, in my flesh I shall see God!"” He was well on his way to immortality.
When He took a sword of faith and shook it in the faces of the world, the flesh,
and the devil, and shouted with what strength he had left, "Though He slay
me, yet will I trust Him,"” there was nothing Satan and his minions could say.
God knows I am not Job. And, were God to name someone today who was
like Job, He wouldn’t name me. Still, God has allowed me to go through
cancer, and now, to join the millions who have Parkinson’s Disease. And the
question arises, ‘How do I cope?’ When the shakes refuse to allow me to
type, eat, hold a glass of ice tea (without sounding like a rattle snake in
distress,) what do you do?
According to Job, the "foolish"” think of "cursing" God.” The wise, on the other
hand, ask: "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and not evil?”" God
sends his rain on the just, and the unjust. While "His mercy endures to all
generations,”" He also "reproves, rebukes, and chastens";” and, "those who are
without chastisement are bastards (illegitimate), and not sons of God."”
The Bible is filled with promises of God’s faithfulness. "Lo, I am with you, even
to the end of the age."
"Weeping endureth for the night, but joy comes in the morning."”
"Now you know that no chastening seems good for the moment, but painful,
but, we know that in due season we shall reap – IF WE DO NOT FAINT!"”
The great Apostle Paul had his "thorn in the flesh",” but was the man God used
to give the world a major portion of "sacred writ",” called the Bible.
One evangelist had such terrible vision, that, he had to hold his sermon up to
his eyes, as he preached his immortal sermon, "Sinners In The Hand of An
Angry God",” but God used that sermon to move multitudes.
"Behold, the ear of the Lord is not heavy so that He cannot hear; neither is His
arm shortened that it cannot save."”
Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in
me …”"
Fear was a part of most every life, so angels were forever saying to God'’s
people, "Fear not."”
We must have faith that God is greater than any problem we face. It is
necessary to always know that God can, but may not, heal us of every malady
we face. He could, though He often does not, keep the devil from attacking us.
He has the power to protect us, as if we were in a divinely created care-free,
trouble-free, and anxiety-proofed, box. But God allows us to "walk through the
valley of the shadow of death",” even though it is not necessarily a pleasant
experience.
What He assures us, thankfully, is, He will walk with us through the valley,
lead us beside still waters, prepare a table for us in the presence of our
enemies, and anoint our head with oil; and, that, goodness and mercy would
follow us "all the days of our life".”
Having made such a wonderful promise, we are still to be mindful that,
"without faith, it is impossible to please God".” We have to do as King David
did, "encourage ourselves in the Lord".” Accept the fact that pain is a part of
life, and there will be times when God will give us miraculous, and immediate,
deliverance. Those times are wonderful, but not guaranteed. No matter which
way the winds blow in our life, however, GOD IS LOVE! He is mindful of our
weaknesses. He knows our frame.
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