October 18 2017 – Click here to listen
Life can really be tough regardless of whether you are a child of God or not. In my life there have been times when I’ve drawn extremely close to God, and unfortunately, there have been some times when I’ve drifted away. One would think that there is a correlation between experiencing only good times in life when close to God, and bad times only occurring after falling away, but that is not always the case.
In fact, the worst times of my life occurred after I had drawn the closest to God. My brother took his life at a time I was closer to God than ever before. I still consider it to be the greatest tragedy that I’ve ever endured. I cried for days, (something I had not done since I was 8 years old and have not done again until this day.)
I remember lying in bed sobbing and asking God why He would allow such a horrible thing to happen to me when I was doing my utmost to serve Him, but no answer was given.
When I founded the Jesus Alliance, I gave up my business interests, and entered fulltime service for God. I immediately suffered neck injuries that resulted in 5 discs being fused together and held in place with metal plates. I endured horrible pain for months and while still undergoing it, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and endured surgery, horrific debilitating chemo therapy, and radiation. Just as she began radiation I had to undergo chemo and three months later emerged from it thin and pale. I underwent 12 months of agony right after committing to serve God fulltime for the rest of my life.
Huh?
The Book of Job is the oldest in the Bible and is a fascinating book. Job is described as an upright man who follows God’s commands and is “blameless” in God’s eyes. The word “blameless” doesn’t mean sinless, but rather, that he had a good standing in the eyes of God and was repentant. Another way of putting it is that Job walked with God. The scriptures tell us Job was wealthy, happy, faithful to God, and had a great family. All was going well for him–that is–until his life comes crashing down.
Behind the scenes Satan had gone to God and told Him that the only reason Job was faithful was because of his great life! He challenged God to allow him to take away that great life and Job would drop Him like a hot rock. God allowed him to take away everything but his life.
Did God Allow Job to Suffer Just to Prove a Point to Satan? Was all that agony the result of a bet between God and Satan? Why Would God Care What Satan Thought?
The best answer I’ve found is that God knows things we don’t know. He can see events unfold in the future that we could have never imagined. Also God invariably will achieve many things with just one event, and He may have 1,000 purposes that He accomplishes with it.
God probably didn’t care so much what Satan thought, but in His wisdom, God knew Job would remain faithful and that his story would inspire millions of faithful Christians to persevere in their trials throughout the ages. In fact I’m still writing about him today.
As for Job, these trials revealed his true character. Of course God knew Job was righteous, and He knew that he would demonstrate his love for Him even when undergoing the worst Satan could throw at him.
Blessings come from our sufferings.
- The Apostle Paul, under inspiration from the Holy Spirit, wrote much of the New Testament while in prison. God has used these books to inspire and teach Christians around the world.
- Joseph was a slave in Egypt, but he was thrown in prison after his master’s wife falsely accused him of sexual advances. Even though Joseph must have felt as if he was enduring extreme suffering and trials, it was this same prison where he met two men and correctly interpreted their dreams. This correct dream interpretation was eventually used by God to lead Joseph to Pharaoh, who put Joseph as second in command over all Egypt. He was blessed with incredible power and wealth.
- The same God who sent Moses into a wilderness for 40 years to herd sheep is also the God who gave Him the strength to free the Israelites from Egypt and split the Red Sea into two walls of water.
- Job was taught to be patient, and to trust God in the midst of suffering–even when he couldn’t understand it. When God restored Job, He doubled the wealth he had before. He gave him new children (and will reunite him in heaven with the ones who died), He gave Job long life, and also gave him extreme honor by placing his name and story in the most read book in the world: The Bible. Furthermore, we can only imagine what honor and glory Job will have for eternity in heaven.
The Book of Job teaches us that suffering is not always the result of wickedness. Sometimes a Christian may be faithful and obedient to God, yet tremendous pain and suffering may come. Jesus Himself said in John 16:33 – I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
The bottom line is suffering may come because God has a great plan in our future. The Book of Job teaches that trials can bring great rewards, such as greater faith and perseverance. James 1:2 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
If you are going through trials right now, are you trusting God? Remain faithful dear friends and trust that God will see you through. Job trusted God. That is why he uttered: Though he slay me, I will hope in him . . .
As for Satan and his demonic antagonists, I say Illegitimi non carborundum.
Onward and upward! I intend to keep fighting the good fight until the “last dog dies.” As difficult as it might be, you need to trust that God can eventually use your fiery trials for your good and His glory. Remember the same God who allows a child to die of cancer in a hospital is also the God who sent His Son to die on a cross to pay for the sins of humanity, that though a child may die, through Christ he or she can have eternal life. He loves you and nothing can separate Him from you for eternity.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.