Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our great God who supplies through His Word all that we need to know for life and godliness.
There are times in life when particular Bible verses, passages, and even books are especially appropriate. In a particular context, the truth of these passages can open up to us more powerfully than ever before. During this journey through COVID-19, I have already traveled through the Psalms and I Peter. My current steps are taking me through Job.
I have studied Job pretty thoroughly in the past. With my health history, I have found the book to be particularly insightful as related to the specific trial of major health issues. I happen to believe that is the special thrust of the book, although it clearly can relate to other trials that are not purely health-related.
In the midst of our current situation, I was pulled back to Job, desiring to look at it through the glasses of a pandemic. What helpful truth does this book hold? I have made a preliminary list of impressions and lessons that I am now focusing in on and expanding. For the foreseeable future, this is probably where most of my letters to you will come, as I hope to share some of God's truth about trials.
Lesson #1. Bad things do happen to good people. Trials don't necessarily mean disfavor with God. That wasn't the case for Job. His friends did not understand that. They thought good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. This is a common doubt in our world and a frequent accusation against God. People want to know why bad things happen to them when they are basically "good" people. Christians often ask this question in times of trouble.
Many people who ask that question or who express that doubt have far less to back them up than Job did. The Bible declares he was "perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil" (1:1). God Himself states that same description (1:8). Even after Satan's first round of horrifying assaults, God said this description was still true of Job (2:3).
The book of Job goes on to confirm multiple times that Job was godly. It does so by recounting his actions (1:5, 20, 22; 2:10). Other people recognized it (2:9; 4:3-4, 6). Job repeatedly affirmed it and even offered supporting testimony (6:10, 28-29; 9:20; 10:7; 12:4; 16:17; 23:11-12; 27:4-6; most of chapters 29 and 31). God acknowledged that the attack was "without cause" (2:3).
The abundance of evidence, and the deliberate repeated assertion by God, ought to be rightly and soberly evaluated. Job was certainly not sinless, as no man is, but he had a high reputation before God and man. He was clearly a godly man.
Even so, bad things happened to him. Really, really bad things. Lots of really, really bad things. This book leaves no question that those bad things were not brought on Job as punishment or as consequences or in any way related to his failures or wickedness.
We may not be asking the question, "God, why is all of this happening in my life?" We may not be saying, "God, I don't deserve this." But sometimes a doubt lingers in our minds. We want to say it isn't right or that it's too much, and probably somewhere underneath those comments is the thought that enough is enough. We are trying to serve God, and this just doesn't seem like what should be happening to people who are trying to do that.
But God never says that. He makes it clear in this book and throughout the Bible that sometimes bad things do happen to good people. The trials may have very little to do with us personally. As in the case of Job, they might actually be permitted to us precisely because God knows we are sincere, just because He knows our heart.
Don't we sometimes do that with our children, students, teams, congregations? We give the heaviest responsibility to those we believe we can trust. In some cases, we might even regret that we have to do that. We might feel a burden in placing more responsibility or difficulty on someone. But there is no one else whom we think can handle it better.
God does that sometimes. He puts greater burden and greater responsibility on those who are already faithfully serving Him. This is not a sign of His displeasure. Neither is it a desire to place them under undue burden. It is, quite the opposite, a sign of pleasure and approval and confidence. God does this to people whom He believes will remain true to Him and who will glorify Him under the new burden.
And the wonderful thing is that God is not cruel in this. He does not throw us into the deep end to sink or swim. Knowing the challenge, He gives His grace to help. He is on our side, pulling for us and supporting us all the way. "My grace is sufficient for thee" (II Corinthians 12:9). "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8).
So bad things might abound. Life might get really difficult. And in those circumstances, you can very well be exactly in the center of God's will, doing exactly what He wants you to do, and living in a manner that pleases Him immensely. Take heart. His grace will help you through.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment