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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Few Days, Full of Trouble (Job 14)

“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble." Job 14 (ESV)


Come on Job!! You are depressing all of us! Seriously, Thanks for reminding us that we don't get to live very long; but at least our short lives will be filled with problems. It is a fact that the human life is short... maybe 80 years, maybe a little longer. And, it is a fact that life is filled with problems. If that is all we dwell on, the psychiatrist' couch is waiting.


Job is certainly scraping the bottom of the hope barrel as he gives us insight into his desperation. Short life, filled with trouble. "He comes out like a flower and withers." "A man lies down and rises not again." "But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place; the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man."


We have all been there. We question God. We want to know what He is thinking when our short lives are filled with trouble. "What is going on God?" We understand the facts of life. We know that everyone dies. We know that even those that seem to live charmed lives... don't get out unscathed. So, what's it all about? What is God trying to communicate to us through these chapters of pain and struggle?


At the very least, He is letting us know we are not alone in this. We all share in the same stuff. We all deal with death. We all live with problems. We all live with struggles. From King to servant, life is the same. From David to Onesimus, life is the same. That is good news if you think about it. Jesus suffered the same stuff we do. Family issues. Betrayal. Pain. Suffering. Heat. Cold. Hunger. Did I mention betrayal by a friend? We are all in the same boat.


Secondly, Job gives us hope in the next life... "If we humans die, will we live again? That’s my question. All through these difficult days I keep hoping, waiting for the final change—for resurrection! Homesick with longing for the creature you made, you’ll call—and I’ll answer! You’ll watch over every step I take, but you won’t keep track of my missteps. My sins will be stuffed in a sack and thrown into the sea—sunk in deep ocean." (The Message Vs 14-17)


Ahh, resurrection! Through this life of pain and sorrow, the hope of resurrection is to keep us going. I love his picture... God longs for His creation and will call to us in the grave. We will answer!! We Will Answer! I love that!! He has watched our steps in this life, but doesn't keep up with our missteps. Good news... nope, great news! My sin is bundled in a sack and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. He won't bring it up. It is down there to stay!


Isn't it amazing that in the hurricane of life, Job thinks about the life to come. While reeling from a punch to his gut, Job thinks about answering God's call and his exit from the grave. And, he reminds us of His benevolence towards us and our sinfulness. When the waves of troubles crash around us, may we remember Job's words. May we remember our Savior and His suffering... and His resurrection! May we remember that He will call us from our graves and we will join Him in the sky to be with Him for eternity. Good news? The best!

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