Sat Sept 8

September 8, 2012

 

Job 2:10   Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?

 

In a few days we will mark the anniversary of 9-11. Inevitably the "WHY" questions will be raised again. "Why did this happen?"  "Why didn't God do something that day?"  Over 2,000 innocent people lost their lives on that horrible day in our history. And God will be put on trial once more. Evil in the world is still a perplexing problem. The story of Job attempts to answer that issue. Even though the "WHY" question will not be answered by the end of the book, we will receive some hints of how to respond to the evil that is found in our world.

 

The first hint is that evil and terrible things happen to good people. In the first chapters we see a man who is described by God as blameless and upright. He is singled out by God when Satan argues that Job only believes because God has blessed him. Satan says that believers only love God when he becomes a "Sugar Daddy" and gives them all the good things of life. In reality God is not on trial in this story; Job and his faith are. What will Job do? Will he curse God if the beautiful life is taken away?

 

So God permits Satan to attack Job. In a single day sudden tragedies strip Job of wealth and family.

 

And we respond by yelling.... at the top of our lungs, "This is not FAIR!!!"  But the truth is that life is not fair. Cancer is not fair. Lyme disease is not fair. Cerebral palsy is not fair. Wheelchairs are not fair. Hunger and poverty are not fair. Unemployment is not fair. Infertility is not fair.

 

Job's story is our story. Your faith is on trial today. Do you love God because he is "useful" to you or do you love Him for who He is? We do have a choice. This choice doesn't ease the pain or exempt us from trials but it does bring healing. Don't let the disappointments of life cloud your vision of Jesus. Jesus is with you in the midst of all the pain. Love him with all your heart.

    

    God hath not promised, skies always blue,

Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through

    God hath not promised, sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

    But God hath promised, strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way

    Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.