"True Faith in God is Unbreakable"

Today I have meditated on and read Job chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4. Most everyone I know has heard or read the story of Job and the suffering he endured. Job was a righteous man and is well known for his spiritual endurance. God used Job to show His glory to his family, friends, Satan, the angels and to us. This story never gets old because it is a reflection of God's Grace, Compassion, Wisdom, Mercy, Love, and His Sovereignty.

Even though Job did not know why he was going through a time of suffering he trusted in his Sovereign God. There was a debate between God and Satan about Job's righteousness. Satan wanted his righteousness to be tested. Satan said in Job 1 that Job was faithful to God only because God had blessed him but, if God took everything away from him then Job would surely reject Him.

Job 1:[9-11]--"So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

I am amazed at how strong Jobs faith was through everything he had to endure. Even through his deepest grief he hunbled himself and fell to the ground and worshipped God. In stead of cursing God for his family dying he blessed God. Jobs submission to God in worship disproved Satans accusations. Job was who God said he was, proving that he was a true believer and that he had faith that could not be broken. It is amazing to me how when we trust God He gives us the strength to endure the trials and tribulations that we may face. We may not understand what is going on in heaven with God nor know how it effects our life, but we can trust Him because He is All-Knowing.

Job 1:[20-22]--"Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “ Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."

Through testing Job Satan wanted to prove that salvation was not permanent, and that saving faith could be broken. If Satan could prove this than anyone that was God's people could be become his. I believe Satan was confident he could turn Job against God by inflicting suffering and pain upon him because he had been able to decieve a 1/3 of Gods angels to follow him. What satan did not realize is that what he meant for evil God meant for good. God released Satan to try to prove his point, if he could, but failed. Jobs faith in God never failed therefore proving that true faith is unbreakable. God allowed Satan to make Job suffer so that He could prove to Satan that saving faith can not be destroyed no matter how much a Child of God suffers.

This story leads us to Christ because of what He did on the cross for our sins. Because of His death on the Cross we are God's forever. Once saved always saved. Jesus is the reason that we have faith. Jobs life was used to point those around him to Christ.

Romans 8: [31-39]--"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Job persevered because he was totally dependent on God for his strength to endure his sufferings. Job could safely leave his life in God's hands because he trusted in God's love, mercy and grace. Even though God seems far away at times in our life he never leaves us nor forsakes us, but promises to preserve our faith. Therefore, we must never abandon God in the midst of our suffering but must draw ever near to Him. When we fellowship with God He gives us the comfort we need to endure. Our suffering may be intense but it will ultimately come to an end and God will bless us even more abundantly for our faith in Him. We must never forget who we are in Christ.

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison