Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

6 January 2024

Reading from Job 10-13

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”

Job 13:15

     Job was a man of admirable integrity and unbreakable faith.  In the face of tremendous loss of family and property, He still believed in and followed God.  It gives me pause and I reflect on what my breaking point may be.  I hope and pray that I do not have a breaking point.  My fervent desire is to serve the Lord until He calls me home to His side in the New Heaven and the New Earth.  He sets eternity before us in the book of Revelation with His encouragement, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”[1]  Job shows his resolve in two ways in this passage; firstly, he declares that even if God kills his body, his spirit will still trust in Him and secondly, Job also maintains that his integrity is pure.  His friends are essentially calling him a hypocrite.  They believe that there must be some secret sin he is hiding that has brought this calamity upon him, but Job is not aware of anything he might have done to directly deserve these tragedies.  He has done his best to lead a life that pleases God.[2]

     Intense suffering has a way of revealing what is truly in a man or a woman’s heart.  It can distill a person’s true priorities and expose strengths and weaknesses of character.[3]  I believe that humans are both physical and spiritual beings.  There is more to me than my physical body, my spirit is within me.[4]  Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”[5]  Job trusted God even as it seemed his body was wasting away.  I am called to have both a firm faith in and a holy fear of God. 

     God is love, He is filled with grace, mercy and compassion, but He is also the all-powerful Supreme Creator and Ruler of the Universe, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  He commands reverence, respect and therefore obedience.[6]  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”[7]  Genuine fear of the Lord is rare today.  Why would people fear something or someone who is a figment of religious imagination?  Because God is not a man-made theological construct.  God is real and He is who He says He is regardless of human belief or commitment.  My opinions and interpretations do not change the character of God Almighty.[8]  God made me, I didn’t make Him.[9]  While not on the scale that Job did, I have known financial hardship, suffered through sickness, and struggled through seasons of stress, grief and mental anguish.  Through it all, even when I was weak, He has shown Himself strong over and over again.[10]  In Him, I am more than a conqueror.[11]  I can trust Him no matter what, even if my circumstances are less than ideal or downright tragic.

     “God, strengthen my faith.  I pray that I will love you and trust you no matter what happens to me.  Give me the strength to do what is right no matter what.  Help me to be a man of faith and integrity.  Amen.”

Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

I Samuel 12:24

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[1] Revelation 2:10

[2] Ephesians 4:1

[3] Romans 5:3-5

[4] I Corinthians 2:11

[5] Luke 12:5

[6] Luke 11:28

[7] Proverbs 9:10

[8] Hebrews 13:8

[9] Romans 9:20

[10] II Corinthians 12:10

[11] Romans 8:37