Date: Wednesday, June 04, 2014
Today's Chapters: Job 21-24
Message Title: Stay Put, God Is Right There

Did you ever get to a point in your life where you just wanted to run away to a place where no one knows you, in hopes that you can make a better life for yourself? I image we all have, and let me tell you, it sure can be hard to keep living for God when He seems to be no where to be found. We must never let our circumstances bring us to a point where we do so something drastic to get away from them, remember, they will follow. We can overcome them, and we can find God through them, but the first thing we must do is realize that God is with us, there will be an end to our circumstances, and we will be victorious. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” - 1 John 5:3-5,10.

As Job continues to hear his friends belittle him, he beings to wonder something. If the righteous suffer when they have done nothing wrong, why do the wicked prosper when they do not even want anything to do with God? “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” - Job 21:7-9,13-15.

It is very hard for the rich to believe in and accept a God that has not been in their lives, they are accustomed to think that they got rich by their own merits. While God will allow the wicked to prosper, there will come a time when their wealth will do absolutely nothing for them. While we cannot always understand why God allows His faithful to struggle at times, we can understand that our faithfulness to Him is not vain, we will be prosperous, and actually have something to show for it. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:7,13,16.

Elipahz, continues to tell job to admit his sins before God and he will forgive him, sarcastically noting that he never listens to the counsel of the wicked. “Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.” - Job 22:15-23.

Here we go again, more self righteous, judgmental, garbage. Job admits that he doesn't see God, and that he is troubled by that, but he also discovers that his affliction is something that God appointed for him, and in the end he will be a better person for it. “Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.” - Job 23:6,8-11,14,15.

Gold is quite rough looking when it is found in the ground, in order to get it shiny it needs to be heated up. Since we are more precious than gold we can be sure that God is going to put the heat on us to make us shine. The one to quench the fire is Jesus Christ, even if we lose everything we ever have or posses we still have Jesus, and we will shine. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

Job responds to Eliphah's accusations, reminding himself that the wicked do not prosper for long. “They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.” - Job 24:13-16,24.

While we may not always understand why everyone around us seems to be prospering, as we sit here trying to figure out life, we can understand that God is watching over us. He knows the way that we take, and He knows our heart, despite our mind telling us to give up the fight. Let me tell you, God knows what you can handle, and He is not about to give up on you, He will fight for you, even if you will not fight for yourself. “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” - Exodus 14:14.

Today's Prayer: God, As much as I believe that all things will work together for good, I still struggle with talking with You through my affliction. I read my Bible and pray, find a moment of hope then lose my desire to keep going when I walk out that door. Lord, I know You do not want me to live like this, I know You want me to lift my head up high, positive that You will see me through. I need Your power to do this, I need Your power to help me get through the day looking to You and having confidence that my faithfulness to You is not vain, one day, after You have tried me, I will come forth as gold, and will be victorious. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? Visit: God's Price
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
©2014 I'm Following Jesus