Perseverance —

When we read the words written about the man named Job, we are awestruck with the reality of our lack of understanding and quick tendencies to jump to conclusions about other people and God. Job 1 reveals a conversation God has with Satan as He asks, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8). Satan replies, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:9-11). God had brought the subject of Job up! Satan presented a wager to God, that he would get Job to blaspheme God, and God replied, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person” (Job 1:12). Remember that God was testing Job and proving Satan wrong at the same time. So, when we read the terrible suffering Job goes through, sense his pain and see his misfortune, we should remember that God is the one who gave permission to Satan to afflict Job. Nothing evil can be done to Job without God’s sovereign approval because Job belongs to Him. So, the question we should really be asking is: Why is God, who has given us eternal life and is the essence of goodness and truth, allowing us, who are sinful and evil creatures by nature, to go through trials of suffering?

The times in which we live are not isolated to the physical world. Spirits are rambling and raging all around us. If we are Christians, then we should not be surprised. This time is one in which we learn to praise and worship God, teach the truth of Jesus Christ saving us from sin, and persevere through the trials and tribulations that come with the reality of sin. We cannot forget that God is refining us into His image for His wonderful kingdom, which is to come, for a very good reason. We may not have all the answer, and we should not pretend to know them all, like Job’s friends did, rather we should trust in the LORD and His Word till the end––it will prevail. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:13-14).