UNDESERVED TRIALS-WHY?
Why do good people sometimes suffer greatly and evil people seem to prosper? Does it pay to be good? Does it pay to serve the Lord?
We sometimes say about a very fine person who is having a hard time “ He doesn't deserve this! Or, she doesn't deserve this!” It is not so much the suffering that troubles us, it is the undeserved trial. This is a kind that bewildered Job in the Scripture we just read. Because Job was doing everything right, when suddenly everything went wrong.
Perhaps, this has been your experience also. As a Christian you are seeking to live the best you can but instead of receiving a reward you are blindsided and face even more trials and tribulations.
The Bible does not give us a long list of philosophical or theological reasons why bad things sometimes happen to good people. Or why life doesn't always seem fair. Rather it gives us stories of real people, in real life situations, and one of these is the story of Job. I believe that the book of Job is very helpful because it covers the whole range of human emotions and experiences. We find here joy and sorrow, blessing and tragedy, God and the devil, truth and falsehood.
As the book opens we are introduced to a good man named Job. Verses 1-12. Job was a spiritually minded man, upright and honest. He knew how to pray. It seems that he was a good husband and father.
Job 1:6 – Then along comes Satan and God graciously asks, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is honest and upright.” The devil replies, “the reason why Job is so faithful it because you are so good to him. He knows it pays to be on your side. He knows that if he does right, you will protect him and reward him. So take away some of these blessings, strip him of his possessions, and I guarantee he will leave you and deny the faith.”
Did you ever stop to think what kind of a world this would be like if at the very moment you became a Christian, all your problems were solved, all your worries were over. Suppose all Christians lived on easy street, with sunshine all the way, lives full of joy and blessing continually. And suppose that all the godless unbelievers lived lives that were full of trouble and calamity and faced a miserable existence every day.
Why in that case everyone would want to be a Christian for what they could get out of it. Everyone would want to embrace Christianity just for the blessings alone. And in the end we would all end up acting like a bunch of spoiled children.
Now, this is not to deny that there are tremendous blessings in the Christian life. Abundant life now and eternal life forever. As the hymn writer exclaims:
“Pardon from sin and a peace that endureth; God's own dear presence, to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow; blessing all ours and 10,000 beside.”
But to serve the Lord for the blessings alone would certainly be the wrong motive. When we look at Job we see a man pretty well fixed in terms of this world's goods. He was on top of the pile, on cloud nine. Then a short time later (verses 13 to 22), he lost virtually everything – his cattle, his, processions, his home and even his children. They were all swept away.
Perhaps you can identify with Job in some of these areas of loss. You have faced sickness, sorrow and disappointment in life. You may have even wondered if adversity and trouble is a kind of punishment for past sins. The book of Job makes it clear that this is not necessarily so. Here we see a good man suffering, not as a punishment for past sins but as proof that he would not waver in the faith, that he would remain true, no matter what!
We see that Jobs life and testimony was a threat, an embarrassment to the devil. Job was such a good role model for God's people to follow that Satan tried to break down Jobs faith and destroy his testimony by giving him a hard time. Satan tried to drive a wedge between job and God by suggesting that God did not really love Job or want the best for him.
This has been one the devils chief tactics from Genesis chapter 3 until now. in other words, Job was on the devil's hit list, and that was a compliment to his faith. I've asked myself that question many times, am I on the devils hit list or is my Christian testimony so weak that I'm no threat to him at all?
God showed confidence in Job, that this testing of his faith would bring forth pure gold in terms of character formation. Note v.13-17, – Job faced 4 blows a quick succession. It was bad enough for him to lose his material possessions but to lose his children; to watch loving hands cover over 10 graves, that would be more than most of us could perhaps bear.
But thank God for his marvellous grace. Jesus said, my grace is sufficient for you! Is sufficient, present tense, right now, whenever you need it most.
Then in Verses 20, 21, we see Job looking up to God through his tears and saying in faith, “The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
After spending many difficult months in a prison camp, a Christian made this very meaningful statement. “It is only when everything in life is gone except God, that we discover that God alone is sufficient. Having him, we have everything.”
We turn now to chapter 2:1-8. Here we find Satan coming back to God and saying in effect. “Look, with that last blow I had Job down on one knee, against the ropes, almost out for the full count. Now I agree he won that round. He is still trusting you God and has not denied the faith yet. But I want one more chance. But this time let me touch him where it really hurts. Let me touch his body and I'll guarantee he will turn his back on you and deny the faith forever.”
So God gave Satan permission, but he could only go so far. Jobs life was to be spared. Here,I believe we face an important distinction between what God actually wills to happen and what he permits to happen. There is a real difference between the two; between God's true will and his permissive will.
God has given us free will, the power to make our own decisions in life. And because of this awesome power of choice there are a lot of things happening in our world that are contrary to God's will. – War, violence, hatred, child abuse, even incidence such as the Boston Marathon Bombing – God never willed any of those things to happen, no way! But, he may permit some things to happen that don't make any sense to us at the time.
It is also true, and I really believe this, that if God permits something to happen, he can always bring a blessing out of it, in the long run, for his believing child. The Bible does not teach that everything that happens is for our good. We are not asked to give thanks for everything but rather in, yes in every situation, even in the difficult times God can be at work for our highest good.
So, while it is true that many things happen that are contrary to God's will; yet God will have the final word! And I believe that nothing can happen that will finally and ultimately defeat God's will. God loves us so much that nothing is permitted to come to us except what is or can be used for our highest good.
But I must add that there are mysteries in life that we cannot fully understand this side of heaven.
Chapter 2:7,8- We read that Satan afflicted Job with boils. Not two or three, that would've been bad enough. But here we see poor Job covered with boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.
He is crying out to God in his affliction over something he could not understand.
Then came another blow v. 9,10. This time within his own family. Job's wife should have stood with him in his trial, but instead we find her saying: “Job, I just can't take it anymore. What have you done? God has forsaken us. Why don't you deny the faith, curse God and die!” How tragic when those we love turn against us and we have to face life's burdens alone.
But, how wonderful, when our marriage partner stands by our side and lifts us up, as my own wife has done many times. And I am sure that there are other wives here this morning who have been a very present help in time of need. But even then, down on both knees, against the ropes, Job would not give up his faith. He said to his wife in verse 10. “You're talking like a foolish woman. Do you only trust God when he sends good your way?”
But that's not the end of the story. The devil always has helpers. So here in chapter 2 :11-13 we see a group of so-called friends coming from Job's hometown – Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, all members of the pessimistic society. If they had brought a message of good cheer and encouragement they could have saved the day for Job. But instead they brought long faces and miserable, wretched spirits. They sat down with folded hands and after a while said, “Job we are praying for you, you hypocrite. What is the sin you have never confessed. God must be punishing you for your past iniquities.” These kind of people actually work for the devil and don't know it. Always looking on the dark side.
Years ago I had a bad case of virus pneumonia, a very stubborn strain which took at least three months to recover from.. Many well-meaning people came to visit and most of them were very helpful. But I remember one woman saying that her father had the same illness and “he never did get over it.” Another man told me that his uncle had the same case of virus pneumonia. “He was only half as sick as you are now and he only lived three weeks.”
Finally Job couldn't stand it any longer! He turned to his so-called comforters and said. “I don't understand why this is all happening to me, but I know one thing, God is good! Someday I will talk with him face-to-face and he will explain it all, and that's good enough for me.”
But just to keep proper balance in this story, there is something I should add. With all due respect for Job, this wonderful man of faith; yet if we read through the book carefully, especially chapters 3 to 9 and 13, we find that his faith was not always strong. He had moments of doubt and weakness. The reason I mention these things is really by way of encouragement. Because sometimes we think that great Bible characters such as Moses, Abraham and Paul were almost perfect, with no doubts, fears or weaknesses of any kind. Such is not the case. The Bible tells the truth about people and it reveals our common humanity. We are all very much alike.
I recall one of those riddle about the Bible that asks, “what man in the Bible talked at a very early age?” The answer is Job, “he cursed the day he was born.” Yes, Job wondered why he was ever born. He wishes he had perished in his mother's womb. But through it all, he learned to trust in God and His faith came through and triumphed in the end.
I point to several examples: chapter 13: 15 finds him saying,”Though he slay me, yet will I trust him, yet will I hope in him.” Job 19:25 – 27, “I know that my Redeemer lives and after my outward body has been destroyed, I will see God. I myself will see him, how my heart yearns within me.” Again in chapter 23:10 – “But he knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me, I will come forth as Gold.”
That great Christian writer, CS Lewis, married quite late in life. He and his wife Joy were very happy, but after just a few years of marriage she was afflicted with cancer and died. Even though Prof. Lewis had great faith, yet he found it hard to accept her death. He found himself crying out to God, saying, “Why did you give her to me only to take her away so soon?” Later he said, that kind of honesty actually brought God closer to bring about healing.
Sometimes it is helpful to tell God exactly how you feel. He knows all about it anyway. Grumble a little if it is in your system. We find that same spirit in the book of Psalms. In Psalm 10:1 the psalmist cried, “Why, O Lord, do you stand off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble.”Yes, be honest with God, but don't stop there, let your faith lead you on to higher ground.
Suppose you are reading a very exciting mystery story and about two thirds way through the book the plot is very complicated, the hero is facing seemingly impossible situations, the villain is in control and the situation seems hopeless. What do you do? Throw away the book and condemn the author? No, you keep on reading to the very end. And in the last chapter, perhaps even the last page, the story all works out in a beautiful way.
So in life, perhaps some of your dreams have been destroyed by the heartless law of cause and effect. You look at some of the tragedies and mysteries of life, such as the premature death of a loved one, and somehow things don't add up, they don't make sense. You may feel like giving up in despair.
But God says hold it, I'm not finished yet! God sees the total picture.
I have a remarkable book in my hand, the most wonderful book ever written. I can open this book almost anywhere and there are some things I can't understand. On almost every page there is a record of sin, sorrow or death. But I've noticed an interesting thing. There is no devil on the first two pages of the Bible, and there's no devil on the last two pages. God is taking care of the problem and all the answers are in the last two pages. We find everything in good shape. God is on the throne of universe; the devil is in the lowest pit of hell, everyone is where they belong and there is a new heaven and new earth.”
But right now, we are still in the midst of history. Everything seemed to be against us at times. But God is not finished yet. Someday, the exiled king is coming back to planet Earth. Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come. Sin and evil will be destroyed, wrongs will be righted, justice vindicated and truth prevail. Glory, glory, hallelujah! Our God, is marching on. The final chapter has not yet been written and that, my dear friends, makes all this difference.
Well, my message is almost over but I want to end with reference to to the final chapter, Job 42:10 – 17. We see how God rewards faithfulness, here and now as well as in eternity. However, we need to keep in mind that God promises to supply out needs but not necessarily all of our wants. In chapter 42:10 the Lord restored the fortunes of Job and he ended up with twice as much if he had before. The original herds of cattle, sheep, and camels were now doubled. God restored, blessed and increased.
And then we read in verse 13 that Job and his wife decided to start another family, imagine that! They had three more daughters and seven more sons. We read that in all the land no girls were as beautiful as Job's daughters. Now I can almost hear someone asking a question, since God doubled the number of cattle, why not the children? Why not six daughters and 14 sons? But then the spirit of God reminds us of something I almost forgot. Back in chapter 1, when the lives of Job's children were stuffed out, yet their souls lived on throughout eternity.
The Bible teaches that this world is not the final home for God's people. We have the promise, that by God's grace, someday we will be reunited with those who have gone to be with the Lord. Those in Christ, whom we have loved long since and lost a while. So, in the land of fadeless day, a great patriarch and his wife will be gathered with a completely doubled family – six daughters and 14 sons. Believe me, when God does something, he does it right.
And I think that we can agree that this story of Job teaches us that it does pay to trust and obey, it does pay to serve the Lord, every day, every step of the way. Hopefully we can be encouraged from this story to keep on praying, in faith believing, and someday your faith will be be rewarded. I believe that God wants the best for you and right now he is working behind the scenes for your highest good.
I saw a little wall motto one time with these words, “Birds sing, not because they have all the answers, but because they have a song.” I want to live more like that. When we think about the greatest the goodness of God, lets not grumble or complaint. Let's sing because God gave us a song.
God bless you everyone..
