A
conversation today with Jesse Hourigan’s dad, Scott, prompted me to reflect on
this past Sunday’s overview of Job and our Q & A time. Scott was talking about the “blessings” that have come upon them during
Jesse’s illness. Scott said he knew one
“blessing” that came from this situation was the reminder that Jesse’s illness
provides to other young people and their parents that this same thing could
happen to me, it could occur in any of our families.
It takes
spiritual maturity for the Christian to honestly reflect on the realities of
life ………and death. In Job 3:25 Job says: “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I
dreaded has happened to me.” These are not the words of a man who did not really trust God, or was a pessimist at heart. Job had the maturity to know that life included suffering,
and that even the blessed life can quickly take a turn for the worse. He also had the honesty to confess that he
“feared” this turn of events; that he “dreaded” what could happen to him.
But Job
also knew God, and tenaciously held on to his beliefs about the goodness of God
throughout his suffering. The book of
Job isn’t so much about suffering, as it is about faith.
In faith
Job declares:
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at
the last He will stand upon the earth, and after my skin has been thus
destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself and my
eyes shall behold an not another. My heart faints within me!” Job 19:25-27
Jesse’s
illness has caused me, as a parent and grandparent, to think about how I would
respond to the sudden illness or tragedy in my family. I’ve rehearsed various responses in
mind. Would my faith hold strong? Would I be angry with God? Would I despair or be dismayed?
It’s
important for us to think on these things, and that we think on them
Biblically. For a Christian the
realities of life……and death are to be viewed with our eyes fixed on the cross
and the empty tomb. Only through the
gospel can we view life……..and death as we should.
For the righteous will never be
moved; he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news; his
heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be
afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. (Psalm 112: 6-8)
These are
some of the promises that anchor our faith:
Being
declared righteous through faith in Christ means we will never be moved or
forgotten by Him. Not then. Not now.
No “bad
news” can change the good news that nothing, not tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword can
separate me from God’s redeeming love.
Regardless of what happens my heart is firm knowing that that
my Hope is alive. He was raised from the dead after three days.
My heart is steady and not afraid, because my adversaries have
been defeated on the cross by my Champion, and he tells me not be afraid
because He will never leave me or forsake me.
Preach these truths to your
soul.
A good ‘sermon’ outline can be
found in the first statement of the Heidelberg Confession.
1. What is my only comfort in life and death?
A. That I am not
my own,[1] but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death,[2] to my
faithful Savior Jesus Christ.[3] He has fully paid for all my sins with His
precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil.[5] He also
preserves me in such a way[6] that without the will of my heavenly Father not a
hair can fall from my head;[7] indeed, all things must work together for my
salvation.[8] Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal
life[9] and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for
Him.[10]
[1] I Cor. 6:19, 20 [2] Rom. 14:7-9.
[3] I Cor. 3:23; Tit. 2:14. [4] I Pet. 1:18, 19; I John 1:7; 2:2. [5] John
8:34-36; Heb. 2:14, 15; I John 3:8. [6] John 6:39, 40; 10:27-30; II Thess. 3:3;
I Pet. 1:5. [7] Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18. [8] Rom. 8:28. [9] Rom. 8:15,
16; II Cor. 1:21, 22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13, 14. [10] Rom. 8:14.
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