Forgive the play on words. I mean, of course, the 'Job' of the Bible. The one Bible hero none of us want to be like, except at the end of his story. The one too many of us think our lives reflect.
I often include in my sermons some statement that God is not causing or allowing suffering in our lives to build character. After a recent message a woman came forward for prayer. She had a list of trials that she was going through that were very difficult. I assured her that God did not send these trials into her life to test her. Especially the sickness she and her son were experiencing. She asked, "What about Job?"
In the weeks that followed I had several conversations in which the same question came up, "What about Job?" It was not difficult to figure out that people have questions about how the story of Job relates to our present standing in Christ. This is no small issue.
Let me begin by stating the obvious, Job is an Old Testament story. This alone should make us think differently when we draw application to our position as New Testament saints, but many Christians seem to miss something here. They think the only transition between the Old Testament and the New is a blank page in their Bible.
Everything changed at the cross!
I cannot take the proper time in a 'blog' to explain the theological implications of that one statement. I only wish to assure you here that God is not allowing satan access in our lives as he did in the book of Job. (Job 1:6-12) Instead He has positioned us in Christ with a real protection from the enemy that includes 'healing all our diseases' not putting them on us.
Job wanted a mediator, someone to come to his defence. (Job 9:33.) We have Jesus as our mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5) Romans 8:33-34 asks, "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" No one. We are justified before God through the blood of Jesus Christ!
In Job 1:6 satan appeared before the throne of God. This cannot happen any longer. Jesus is there! (Hebrews 9:24) He is there "on our behalf!" Can you imagine satan standing there next to Jesus? I don't think so! The Bible teaches us that satan has been thrown down, cast from the presence of God. In fact satan cannot even accuse us before God because he has no weapon of accusation. (Col.2:13-15)
He is the 'accuser' only when we listen to his accusations in our thoughts. His only weapon is deception. We can only believe his accusations when we believe the lie that God has not taken the "bond that stood against us" away "nailing it to the cross."
There are many stories in the Old Testament that we must interpret through the 'light' of the cross. Job is certainly high on that list.
It is not your 'Job.'
(I intentionally do not capitalize 'satan'...his is not a proper name.)
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Great food for thought, Ray, especially in light of having read Job recently for my Carmelite class! That suffering is part of life on earth is a great mystery; there is far more to it than we know. I don't believe God brings us suffering to test us, but He does allow it to touch us at times, and, strangely, it often brings us closer to Him. The Apostles all suffered; it is through their blood and that of the other ancient martyrs that we have our faith today. Is it possible that our bravery through suffering, our trust in the goodness of God in difficulty, can become a foundation of faith for others? All things must be seen in the light of the cross, for through the cross, we know that our God loves us beyond measure. It is a great honor to suffer for Christ, if that is His will for me. God bless you!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of your comment. However, I must say that I believe that it is NOT God who allows suffering. (This is a major issue with me which I hope to write an article on soon.)
ReplyDeleteI know this slams up against many dearly held beliefs, but that is for the 'article' to defend.
For now I only want to say that, though the sufferings we (and the saints) experience does position us to encourage others (if we find victory),our FAITH is best demonstrated in the form of victory rather than defeat.
When many people speak of the 'in the light of the cross' they sound as if it is something we must bear (I am sure you didn't intend that.) I believe that The Cross of Christ was a complete place of victory. He bore all our pain and all our disease there. (Is.53.) That does not mean we won't experience suffering in this life. We and the Apostles have our share of that reality, but (without going into all that I believe Is.53. means,) it certainly does not mean that God would send or allow something to come into our lives that cost Him so much to eliminate! In my opinion it is never God's will for you to 'suffer for Him', It may be that we will suffer for the sake of the Gospel. That is a fact of our faith. Our faith through suffering for the Gospel does bring Him Glory. But sometimes I think Christians are the ones who are seeking a sort of 'glory' for themselves when they speak in terms of 'suffering for Jesus.'
Ps Esther;
ReplyDeleteI am aware that Paul had a lot to say about suffering for Jesus...Paul took it as a privilege..
Jesus even said "I will show him (Paul) how much he will suffer for the sake of my name" Acts 9:16...This does not contradict the above. Jesus did not say to Paul,"I will bring so much suffering upon you...." rather Jesus knew what was going to be the inevitable result of Paul's message. In fact, the greater point to my belief is that too many Christians think that the sickness and hardships they suffer in life are a form of Biblical 'suffering'...to be sure this is not the case...most, if not all the suffering that the scripture calls suffering is real persecution. Hatred for the message of faith-righteousness which Paul preached. For that I am most willing to suffer!
I will look forward to your article on the topic! I do know that personally I have grown, had my faith stretched and learned of Christ through suffering. I'm not sure I would have grown much in my faith if I didn't face hardships. Would you have learned all you have without difficulties? I keep thinking of Eustace and his dragony skin that was so painfully (but lovingly) ripped off by Aslan. It wasn't a feel-good experience for Eustace, but it was a good one in that it changed his life. He had been so wrapped up in selfishness; his dragony experience taught him love. The fleeting pain he felt relieved much more pain in the long run. (Do you know of what I speak? It's from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.) Obviously CS Lewis is not the voice of God, but I have found great truth in that analogy in my own life. There are so many things we must do for our children - such as ripping off bandaids, allowing doctors to innoculate them or set broken bones, offering consequences to teach about choices, getting them to "eat their spinach," etc. - that they don't understand. They only feel the pain or the frustration. Can there be benevolent suffering? Must we always feel good to believe God is good? We don't want to hurt our children, but we see the bigger picture that they can't. It is a great mystery, to be sure. I do not believe God causes suffering, but I believe He uses it in our lives. I see it as one of those "see through the glass darkly" things that we may not understand until we see Christ face to face.
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