How Will Light Shine On All Your Ways?

In an attempt better understand the question posed, I think we should have a brief overview of the book of Job. Everybody has heard about Job at some point in time. The book of Job is a grasping show of wealth, to poverty, to wealth (riches, to rags, to riches), a theological composition about affliction and heavenly sway, and an image of faith that perseveres. Job had been tried; however, his life was based on God, so he persevered.

Job is a prosperous rancher living in the place that is known as Uz. He has vast number of livestock, an enormous family, and numerous workers. Abruptly Satan precedes to God asserting that Job confides in God simply because he is affluent and everything is working out in an effective way for him, that he only trusts God because of his wealth.

Satan is permitted to decimate Job's family, his workers, his livestock, and his home; however, Job continues in trusting God. Next Satan assaults Job physically, covering him with excruciating sores. Job’s wife advises him to curse God and die (2:9), yet Job silently suffers.

Three of Job's companions, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, visit him. From the outset, they quietly lament with Job. However, they start to discuss the explanations behind Job's misfortunes, they let him know that transgression caused his torment. He ought to admit his wrongdoings and return to God. However, Job keeps up with his innocence.

There are five parts or sections in the book of Job. The first part is the testing of Job (1:1 – 2:13). In the second part, three friends give their answers (3:1 – 31:40) {first discussion 3:1 – 14:22; second discussion 15:1 – 21:34: third discussion 22:1 – 31:40}. In the third part, another man gives his answers (32:1 – 37:24). The fourth part is God answering (38:1 – 41:34). And the last part is the restoring of Job (42:1-17).

The question presented comes from the third round of discussion as Eliphaz speaks. When Eliphaz originally addressed Job (chapters 4 and 5), he lauded Job's acts of kindness and tenderly proposed that Job may have to apologize of some transgression. Although he did not have anything new in his discourse, he got more explicit. He was unable to shake his conviction that suffering is God's discipline over malicious deeds, so he proposed a few potential sins that Job may have submitted. Eliphaz was not intentionally trying to discourage Job; toward the finish of his discourse, he promised that Job would have reclamation and peace if he would just concede his wrongdoing and make atonement.

Eliphaz pronounced that Job's perspective on God was excessively little, and he condemned Job for feeling that God was far taken from earth to even think about him. If Job knew about God's extraordinary, individual interest in him, Eliphaz said, he would not dare think less of his transgressions. Eliphaz has a point. Certain individuals do trifle with wrongdoing since they think God is far away and does not see all that we do. Yet, his perspective did not have any significant bearing to Job.

A few times Job's companions showed a fractional knowledge on God's character and truth, yet they had inappropriately applied this truth to life. Such was the situation with Eliphaz, who gave a wonderful rundown of repentance (22:21-30). He was right in saying that we should ask God's pardoning when we sin, however his explanation was not accurate to Job who had effectively approached God for his forgiveness (7:20-21; 9:20; 13:23) and had lived intently in contact with God from the beginning. When we repent, and lay hold of God’s Word, it will be as a lamp to our feet and as alight to our path (Psalm 119:105).

How will light shine on all our ways? If we live as the Lord directs, the light that is from God that is within us will shine, showing others the way to Christ (Matthew 5:14). We are to let our light shine before everyone (Matthew 5:16). Would we be able to conceal a city that is perched on top of a hill? Its light around evening time is seen for a significant distance. We conceal our light by (1) not speaking when we ought to speak, (2) by blending in with the world, (3) by denying the light, (4) by allowing sin to diminish our light, (5) by not disclosing our light to other people, or (6) by disregarding other people’s needs. We are not to hide the light of God from the world, but we are to be a beacon of the Light of Truth.

God’s Word is a light to those who are in darkness and provides guidance toward the way of Peace (Isaiah 9:2; Luke 1:79). Jesus teaches us that we are not to hide the light, it must be out in the open for all to see (Luke 8:16, 11:33-36). We are to bear witness of the Light that shines unto everyone that comes into this world (John 1:7-9). Our actions should reflect our faith. We should live a morally spiritual life so that we reflect the light of God (Ephesians 5:8).