Holding On To Heaven While Hell Is On Your Back

Holding On To Heaven While Hell Is On Your Back

And then came a messenger unto Job, and said, the oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: …… Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:13-21

My brothers and sisters, among all the great heroes of the Old Testaments, there has stood none quite like Job. Job seems to stand like a mighty oak tree in the midst of a heavenly forest. Job was one of the most unusual characters that has ever been lifted in Hebrew history. Many men have come on the scene, but none quite like Job. Job went to school at the University of Hard Knocks. Job majored in “Lord Have Mercy” and “Thank You Jesus.” Job knew all about sorrow and tribulations. He is one of the only few men I’ve read about who took all of his troubles at one time. And not only that, but Job held on to heaven when hell was on his back. I know I made a broad statement when I said that Job was one of the greatest men that live beside Jesus that walked upon God’s green earth. But I say that with confidence. I say that without taking it back. I believe that Job was one of the greatest men that live beside our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Job took it all at one time. Oh brothers and sisters, I believe that if the truth be told tonight some of us just can’t handle trouble. Some of us have trouble when one lie is told on us.

Some of us get upset when others don’t speak to us or they roll their eyes at us. Some of us can’t handle the little things one at a time. But Job took every thing that Satan had to give him at one time and still held on to God’s unchanging hands. I know that Noah suffered. Yes, Noah suffered preaching the same sermon for 120 years, talking about it’s going to rain. But Noah never suffered like Job suffered. I know that Abraham suffered, but Abraham didn’t suffered like Job suffered. Abraham had to wait until he was an old man to have a child, but Abraham never suffered like Job suffered. I know that Joseph had to suffer. For because of jealousy, his brothers sold him. And Joseph had to work his way from prison to the king’s place, but Joseph didn’t suffer like Job suffered. Yes, I know that Sharach, Meshach, and Abedigo suffered because of heathen folks. They put them in a fiery furnace. But those Hebrew boys never suffered like Job suffered. Yes, I know that Daniel suffered. But Daniel didn’t suffer like Job suffered. Daniel was promoted by God but demoted by his enemies.

Daniel was put in the lions’ den. But Daniel never suffered like Job suffered. I know that Hosea had to suffer. Hosea had to rock and hold babies that wasn’t his. But Hosea never suffered like Job suffered. Yes, I know that Elijah had to suffer at the hands of Ahab and Jezebel, but Elijah never suffered like Job suffered. Yes, they beheaded John the Baptist. They stoned Stephen. Took Matthew and dragged him through the streets of Ethiopia. Took Luke and hung him on an olive tree. Took Peter and crucified him upside down. Took John the Revelator and put him on an isle called Pathmos. Beheaded Paul, but none of them ever suffered like Job suffered. Now if Adam was the first man. and Daniel was a praying man. Moses was the meekness man. And Samson was the strongest man, then surely, Job was the most patient man. Job took all of his troubles at one time and held to God’s unchanging hand. Y’all going to pray with me? I’m going to give you some gravy after while, but I’m giving you the meat first. And when you get

the meat, you can make your own gravy. They all suffered, but not like Job.

Job’s name only consist of three letters, but if we discuss how Job felt about God, it would be like a volume of encyclopedias. Because Job really loved God. Now some scholars would have you to believe that there is no one called Job. Most school of thought would tell you that the book of Job is nothing but wisdom or literature. Some scholars would say that God is trying to explain the problem of Israel. Some scholars say that Job was not a real human being. Some scholars say that the reason there was no such man, because no man could take that much punishment at one time and come out swinging. But oh brothers and sisters, I believe that there was a man name Job. I believe it because in the 14th chapter of Ezekiel, Job is listed along with Noah. And then James talks about the patience of Job. I believe there was a man name Job. And not only that but, I believe the God can do anything but fail. I want you to understand that the book of Job deals with why do good people have to suffer.