Being Stripped Down to the Eternal Text: Job 1:20-22
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 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.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Introduction: Job had it all it seemed, riches, family and God, but then tragedy struck and everything that seemed to be of importance to Job was gone. He used to be very successful, but now he is naked and sick. His home is in shambles, his marriage is a joke, and his children-his precious children-are dead! It seems that the old saying, “you can’t keep a good man down.” Well, it seems to be a mere fable, but no not with Job, this man under the blistering sun of adverse circumstances is found with the fact that he can only be stripped down to what he started with before.
I. How many people would like to have a life like Job’s? Listen, if the Lord tarries one day every person in here will be almost naked under the bed sheets of a hospital room or bed room! Rich or poor it doesn’t matter, no one leaves with a boat load of goods! We will all leave stripped!
A. II Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
B. If you have Christ you have eternal! There are 5 truths I would like to bring to light. #1. You can be stripped of the temporal, but not the eternal!
C. Many people are missing out on the best things of life such as, God, marriage and family because they are striving only for the temporal!
D. I Cor. 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Listen to the Message Bible 19).If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years; we’re a pretty sorry lot.
E. #2. There are a few things in life a person doesn’t have to lose. 1. Character. 2. Class. 3. Christianity. Romans 5:1-5 Tells us that everything we go through is to build character, class and Christianity!
F. John Wesley at the age of 36 as an itinerant preacher, traveled on horse back over 250,000 miles preaching over 40,000 sermons. He regularly preached 3 times a day, often beginning at 5 A.M. During his life-time he lived frugally, giving away nearly $150,000 out of his meager income to spread the gospel. What he left behind at his death was one well-worn coat, two silver teaspoons, and the Methodist Church with 119,000 members.
G. Was it worth it?
H. #3. Job learned to forgive his friends and repent unto God! Repentance and forgiveness is the way of life for the mature believer! (Those who won’t forgive and repent become bitter!)
I. In Acts 3:19 Peter cries out, 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
J. #4. Job found hope in the future, and his health, finances and family were restored! It might seem that you have lost everything, but if you have Christ you have it all!
K. It’s time that every person in the house of God is awakened; awaken to what’s important, and what’s not! God, family and friends can’t be bought. It takes love, time and even more love!
