The Same Faith for Today and Forever

As I continue my study of Job, something leaps out at me that doesn’t make sense.  Job is so angry – so entitled and self-righteous.  He is calling God to account for the unfair treatment he is getting.  At the same time, we find in the account of Job the most beautiful statements of faith about his future Redeemer.  We find a complete trust in a life hereafter of peace without pain.  How can he be in both states at once?

Millennia before Jesus was born on the earth, Job recognized who He is.

It is particularly surprising when we realize that Job is believed to be one of the oldest books of the Bible, happening early in the history of humanity.  And yet even millennia before Jesus was born on the earth, Job recognized who He is and what He was going to do for us.  Job isn’t like us.  We have the advantage of looking back in history and seeing the actual birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  History was just beginning with Job and the birth of Jesus was so far in the future!  That Job can use the same statements of faith we do when he was so far from the events that brought the victory is astounding.  But even more astounding is that he could have that amazing faith, and yet still be so off track in his condemnation of God’s treatment of him in the moment.

I can see the struggles of the Christian walk in a broken world. 

That is why I have come to love the book of Job – much to my surprise.  It is a hard book to read for sure.  All the Hebrew poetic forms – the dialogue that keeps jumping back and forth – the repetition.  But if I look through that and look into the heart of Job, I can see myself.  I can see the struggles of the Christian walk in a broken world.  And I see a patient, loving God who knows just how to handle the rebellious, sinful nature that we humans are cursed with.  I can also see my struggle with holding a deep faith in the eternal salvation of Jesus and trying to hold hope when my current circumstances are overwhelming – both at the same time.

In the midst of it all, Job reveals a hope that lives past this world.

It was chapter 19 of Job that really brought this to my attention.  Job is continuing on in his suffering and in his complaining, still calling for God to come and account for His unfair treatment.  In fact, he spends 24 verses complaining.  He makes statements such as, “. . . know that God has wronged me” (v. 6), “. . . I get no response . . . there is no justice” (v.7), and “. . . the hand of God has struck me” (v. 21).  These are hopeless, bitter, faithless statements.  And yet, in the midst of all of that, he reveals a hope that lives past this world.  Verse 25 and 26 read, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed yet in my flesh I will see God.”  He is looking forward toward that day, as verse 27 says, “How my heart yearns within me!” 

The suffering over time wears on you. 

It was shocking to read verse 25.  After all of those verses of accusing God of all sorts of evil intent and heartlessness, to see such a strong and pure statement of faith!  And yet, maybe it shouldn’t shock me.  After all, Job was a man of great faith and he was a man who was trying to follow after and be obedient to God, even with all of his human defects.  When he originally lost everything, Job is the one who calmly states, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21b)  I can’t imagine the faith it would take in a moment when EVERYTHING is gone to submit to the Lord’s will and praise Him, too!  Some days, I struggle to have that kind of faith when one or two things go wrong.  Then Job shows that in spite of that faith, he is very much like me.  He gets afflicted with sores, and sits with his friends for 7 days on an ash heap in silence – bearing and enduring and trying to persevere.  Have you ever noticed that at the beginning of a trial, it is easier?  In fact, you take a little pride in how well you are handling it all.  You have hope in how you are able to hang on and turn to God and have faith.  You believe that God will work it for good and you are sure He will step in soon to help you.  But often, the trial doesn’t end in a few days.  It didn’t with Job.  The suffering over time wears on you.  You can hold the faith for a while, but after days and months and even years of praying the same desperate prayers and trying to hold on to the same meager faith, you can easily drift into the same place Job was – bitter, self-righteous, fearful, and hopeless.  At those times, just like Job, the only hope you can hold onto is the hope of a better world after death. 

God remains the same.

The reality is, though, that they are both the same faith.  In both the seemingly never-ending trial, and in the never-ending glory and victory of eternity, God remains the same.  We have faith in Him because of who He is, not because of anything that happens.  We believe in salvation from death and hell because of who God is.  We believe that we will see a better day because of who God is.  We praise and rejoice on the mountaintops because of who God is.  He is the God who hears and sees and provides and saves.  The same God that let His Son die in agony and shame so that you could be with Him is the same God that you are seeking so desperately in your agony.  If He didn’t abandon humanity to save His beloved Son, He isn’t going to abandon you when you need Him the most.  What makes it seem like different kinds of faith is that some day, we will actually see Him and know beyond doubt that we are in His presence.  But today, in our trials, we can’t see Him or hear Him.  That doesn’t make Him any less present with us, though. 

How do I turn my thinking around in the moment?

All of that is true.  But in the moment it is so, so hard to remember and hold on to.  The next question I had to ask myself is how do I turn my thinking around in the moment so that my faith is as strong in the now as it is in the hereafter?  Later on in the book, I think Job gives me a clue to the answer.  In Chapter 23, Job is lamenting that, try as he might, he just has no idea of where to find God to present his case to Him.  In verses 8 and 9, he says, “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.  When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.”  When I read that, I immediately thought of Psalm 139, written by another man who knew great fear and suffering and loss – David.  David spent much of his existence on the run, fearing for his life.  He was betrayed by those close to him, he lost a young child even after praying earnestly for God’s invention.  And one of the people intent on killing him was his own son, Absalom.  David had plenty of reason to lament, too.  But he had an entirely different view of the presence of God.  In Psalm 139:7-10, he says, “Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Job is talking ABOUT God, while David is talking TO God.

So how do I learn to be more like David and less like Job?  The first thing I notice is that Job is talking ABOUT God, while David is talking TO God.  In our times of trial, instead of thinking all kinds of things about why God isn’t responding and building up theories about what it is that is keeping Him from helping us, how about if we just bring it to Him?  How about if we tell Him honestly how hard it is and how our faith is suffering and how we can’t understand?  How about if we tell Him that we honor His will and that we don’t feel like we have the strength to follow or endure it?  That is an everlasting faith. 

Job is trying to find the God he wants God to be.

The next thing I notice is that Job is focused on working hard to find God, while David is acknowledging that he doesn’t have to do any searching because God is already there.  Job is trying to find the God he wants God to be.  He is searching only for what he wants to see, instead of acknowledging that God is already in the moment and was before it ever happened.  Job is trying to enforce his will on God, instead of submitting.  We need to stop looking for God to be what we want Him to be.  We need to stop, take a breath, and find out what God wants us to be in the moment.  We need to quit running around in panic so much and rest in the perfect God that is already there.

Job is relying on his own understanding.

Job is relying on his own understanding.  Look at the words he uses: “go”, “see”, “catch no glimpse”.  We feel like we have to go and do something to make the trial end.  We look for answers and explanations.  We struggle to try to catch a glimpse of what God might be thinking so we can understand.  And for all of that effort, Job is not getting any answers.  But he is getting depressed and hopeless and anxious. 

David is relying on God’s understanding.

David on the other hand is relying on God’s understanding.  He uses words like, “you are there”, “you will guide”, and “you will hold me”.  He is resting in the knowledge of who God really is and that He is always present.  He is saying the same God that David would find if he travelled to heaven is the same God that is with him right then in the moment.  And he just asks to be guided and held.  And David is getting help.  He is able to praise God in hope, joy, and love, even during the trials.  Isn’t it ironic that Job, who is physically at rest on an ash heap, is working so hard spiritually that he is wearing himself out?  And David, who is constantly on the run for his life physically, feels rested and held spiritually?  The beauty of resting in the faith of God.

The faith that we have in the salvation of Jesus is the same faith that we can have in the moment.

Lastly, in the search for how to hold faith in the moment, I turn to the words of Jesus.  In John 16:33, He says, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  The faith that we have in the salvation of Jesus is the same faith that we can have in the moment – even if the moment seems to never end.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  If He was willing to suffer and die so we can have hope in eternity, He is certainly going to be with you giving you peace and strength in the moment.  Don’t despair and start talking about Him instead of to Him.  Don’t wonder where He is – ask to feel His presence that is already there.  Don’t wonder why He isn’t fixing things – ask Him for strength and peace as He carries you through.  Don’t wonder if He loves you – remember that He loved you enough to die to you and overcome everything you are currently experiencing.  Talk to Him and be held.

I hope today’s message touched your heart, increased your understanding, and encouraged you.  Praying the peace and comfort of Christ Jesus on your life.