JOB: AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF FAITHFULNESS- Job1:22

When we read the book of Job we think about all the hardship he faced. And we wonder why God would allow all of these things to happen to him. Especially because he was a man that was always faithful to God. And sometimes when what we perceive to be bad things happen in our own lives we end up comparing our lives to Job’s.

But, when we realize that “11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” as Paul says in 1Cor.10:11. We see that God did this so that we will know that even though bad things sometimes happen it is always for a purpose. At least they will serve God’s purpose for us who are committed and faithful to Jesus.

The bad things happen because there is a devil in the world that is trying to discourage you from following after and trusting in God. And isn’t this exactly what we see when we read about the events of Job’s life?

The reason Job is in the Bible is because Job’s life is an example of the life of man from Adam in the garden till now where believers are rewarded after death. Adam had everything he needed in the garden except one thing. He needed to be made a spiritual being.

And in God’s great wisdom He chose to make man with free will and dominion but having no spirit in him. Then after receiving the knowledge of good and evil he would come to know his mortality and the suffering that comes with it.

Then at the end of his life, after losing all he had at the first, he is blessed with far greater things than he had at the first. Which is our inheritance from God in His kingdom. This is the pattern Job’s story shows us.

Job was a man who trusted in God and remained faithful no matter what. And he remained faithful even when he experienced the not so nice things this life has in it. As he was also through the really good things this life has.

Both can be tests as we see in Proverbs30:7-9 where it is asked of the Lord, “7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

And when being buffeted on every side Job continued to trust in Jesus. Knowing that his life is hid safely in Christ no matter what the circumstances he encounters here on earth might tempt him to do.

Job’s wife even saying because of the horrible things he was going through that he should just curse God and die. And his counselors even trying to convince him that it was because he had done some horrible wrong that he was being punished for that all these things were happening to him.

And do you know why these people were so quick to give Job such bad advice? Because like so many still today they had a perverted understanding of who God is. And His purpose for giving Israel the law. That it was for her preservation as a people whose bloodline messiah would come through. And not for righteousness.

Because like those who have believed the church’s doctrine of original sin and sin nature, Job’s counselors too used their perverted beliefs about who God is to determine why what was happening to Job was happening. Not knowing that there was something entirely else at work here. Something they couldn’t fathom because they were stuck in a paradigm that was inconsistent with who the Creator is and His loving purposes for man on earth.

Even changing the justice of God into punishment for bad behavior by the law’s demands. Rather than speaking of their deliverance from their enemies as God showed to them over and over again. As we see in places like Judges2:16 and elsewhere. Making God to them the “hard man” of Mt.25:24 as the servant that was given one talent that buried it in the earth perceived Him to be.

But, for the faithful we see Job, after remaining faithful throughout all his trials, and refusing his wife’s and his counselor’s bad advice and accusations, who were people like those who have been deceived by the doctrine of original sin and sin nature today, Job received from God many fold what he had ever had before. To show us that as we are faithful to trust in Jesus the end of our lives as New Covenant believers will be one of abundance of joy, peace, and love in the Holy Spirit.

It is when we stand before Jesus at the bema seat judgment that we will receive rewards for our faithfulness. Rewards the likes of which brought to Paul’s remembrance something Isaiah said, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

This is the end of the man whose heart never left off from trusting in Jesus. No matter what life threw at him he stayed the course. Running the race to win so that he will say as Job did in the midst of all of his trials, “even though He slay me yet will I trust in Him.”

From Job comes this greatest statement of faith in the Bible aside from Jesus’ “Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done”, when He considered the horrors He knew awaited Him in going to and being nailed on the cross. Horrors that would expose Satan for who he really is to the world. And death on the cross that joined Jesus in an unbelievers death. So that His being united once again with the Father made it possible for us to be joined with Him by faith.

This story is one that shows us that we must never lose hope. Because no matter how bad things may seem Rom.8:28 remains true. God really is working all things together for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purposes.

And conversely no matter how good things may get we must not forget the Lord. But, must remain faithful as we prosper giving glory to God. Knowing that our victories are not our doing. But, the Lord’s.

Even as Gideon was shown in Judges 7 when God told him to whittle down the numbers of the men through several tests that would go to battle with him. So that the glory would be God’s when they defeated their enemies. Instead of taking glory for themselves.

I believe we are entering into a time of testing like this now. When peace and safety will be had by the world in a way it has never experienced before. But, be on guard faithful ones. It is only a test designed to weed out the true ecclesia of God from the tares growing in among us. Those who love Him more than all the riches and comforts the world can offer.

It will last a short time as Rev.17 says. To give way to the man of sin whose coming is manifested when he makes his power play as he “plucks up by the roots” 3 of the 10 kings of Rev.17. To begin his attempt at reigning on earth that also will last only a short time.

So the lesson we receive from Job’s trials is that we can never go wrong by trusting Jesus completely and without reservation. Because when all is said and done we will receive the crown of life. And the rewards for the works we have done that give God the glory due His name.

Works that make it through the fires of the Bema judgment because they are made of gold, silver, and precious stones. While the works that are wood, hay, and stubble, will burn when tried as by fire.

These burned up works not touching our salvation. Because we are not saved by works. But, only by grace through faith. A gift of God lest any man should boast.

So our salvation is secure by the sealing of the Holy Spirit. While only the rewards for works done while living on earth do hang on the Bema seat trial as if by fire Paul tells us about in 1Cor.3:10-15.

So we must see the story of Job for what it truly is. That it is an example for us to be as Job who when he was tried never faltered in his faith toward God. Knowing that He was able to bring Job victoriously through anything the devil might try to throw at hm. Afterward to receive the rewards God has for them that love Him.

Do you love the Lord Jesus? Have you confessed Him with your mouth? Have you believed in your heart that He has raised from the dead? If so, then you are saved. But if not, then you are not saved.

To join with Job in God’s abundant eternal life you must confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that He has raised from the dead. For it is with the heart man believes and is righteous. And it is with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Do this and you will be made a child of God and heir to His kingdom. Do this and you will have eternal life. Do this and at the resurrection you will have immortality. Do this and like Job the trials of this life will pale in significance when compared to the wonders God has for those who love Him. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!