Day 177
Finally the spiritual ping pong battle is about to end, and let’s see how God sets things right. Actually when you think about it….things are always “right” with God…because He is the baseline of righteousness. And in the grand scheme of things…Job’s trial was very short. WHAT DAN?? Short…it was horrible…it took forever. Okay, let’s say that it was 2 months…now during those two months, that IS eternity. But compared to a lifetime (Job lived to be 140 years), it is far less than 1% of 1% of your life. That doesn’t mean that it was fun….and that doesn’t mean that YOUR trials are fun….in fact, they are NO fun…but in the rear view mirror, they are rich. Consider how Paul sees things….
2 Corinthians 4:17 – For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (NIV)
But that is old time bible stuff Dan….really? Unless you all are catatonic, you probably know that the Olympics are going on now…and everyday you see some people get up on the podium to receive their prize. And let me give you a hint, they didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to swim…or decide to run, or do gymnastics. They labored for years…denying themselves of sleep, “fun”, pleasure, and they endured pain…lots of physical pain…because they knew that the “suffering” was worth it. And they did it for a piece of metal!!!! And for fame and glory that will fade fast…real fast.
But be encouraged friends!!! We get to suffer for eternal glory. I can’t wait to meet Job in Heaven and chat, and I bet he will say, “what suffering”….compared to this??? Heavenly glory, and splendor, and being able to live with the King?? What suffering? But back to Job on earth…what did happen? Oh yeah…be prepared to have your mind blown…
Job 42:12-16 - 12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days.
So Job was restored TWOFOLD…he was rich….but what about his kids? Why didn’t God double them? Okay…now this is Dan’s version…not from the bible, but I think that this is true. Job’s children were doubled…because the ones that God took from earth…are alive in Heaven. Again…you won’t find that in the bible…but it sure would make sense to me. Because not only was Job a righteous man…but if you remember from yesterday…God listened to his prayers. And Job prayed for God to protect his children….so why wouldn’t He?
So be encouraged friends….God’s scales of justice might not make sense today….but they make sense for eternity, which is far more important!
Grace and Peace, Dan
