“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of Yahweh. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, They seek Him with all their heart. They also do not work unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.” — Psalm 119:1-3 LSB
My time in Christian college was short lived, but it was still impactful. The school brought in good and solid preachers from around the country to speak in Chapel on Wednesdays. I heard many good and Godly preachers, but every now and then we got one that said something to make us all twist our heads. This particular man, I have no recollection of the man’s name or even what he looked like, but something he said has stuck in my head for almost ten years now.
The preacher was speaking on the book of Job and the profound level of Godliness that Job had. Look at what God Himself even said about Job.
“The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”” — Job 1:8 NASB
“The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”” — Job 2:3 NASB
“Blameless and upright…” In Psalm 119:9-11, David tells us how we can be that man.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” — Psalm 119:9-11
God wants us to be upright, blameless, loving God, and living lives that seek to be pleasing in God’s eyes. The entire chapter of Psalm 119 is spent talking about how impactful the scriptures can and should be. We’re how studying our Bibles will cause us to live better, Godlier, holier lives.
Back to this one preacher I heard in college, he uttered a sentence that boggled my mind. I wasn’t even truly interested in living for God at the time, but even I noticed his words seemed off and wrong. I can still remember most of the words he used. Thinking back to everything that Job went thru in the first three chapters of the book and how it affected him thru the rest of the book, he said these words.
“I don’t want to be so close to God that he uses me as an example of Godliness.”
Maybe I misheard him, maybe he mis-spoke or said it wrong, I’m not sure. My conversations with friends afterwards told me they had heard that too and were equally confused. “I don’t want to be so good a Christian that God uses me to show off His goodness.”
Sitting in that large auditorium, I almost screamed, “WHY NOT? Isn’t that what living for God is all about? You don’t want God to be proud of you?” I’m sure he does want God to be proud of him, and I want God to be proud of me. I may not feel like I’m good enough to be that “example of Godliness” that Job was. But that should be the goal, should it not?
I’m not saying we should do everything exactly as Job did it, I have no idea how we would even find that information out.
You’ll likely never go through the same trials and tribulations that Job went thru, but are you ready? If God brought your life down to where all you had left was the clothes on your back and your faith in God, would you still keep your faith in God strong? Would you still be faithful to Him? Or would you throw up your hands and walk away in disgust and disappointment? How would you react?
This preacher I heard in college, unless he’s changed his mind about that statement, I’m certain he would give up and walk away from God if God let Satan take everything except his life. I know for myself, I would at least be tempted to walk away from God, but my prayer for myself and for you is that our faith is not in our bank accounts, or our situations, or our circumstances, or our friends. I pray that my faith and hope is truly in God. I also pray that your faith and hope is in the Lord your God as well.
Bank accounts may one day become empty. Situations might become dire and desperate. Circumstances may soon look extremely difficult and unfavorable. Friends could possibly walk away from us. Family might give up. The government already doesn’t care about us. Is our faith still in God? Will our faith still be in God when everything else seems to fall apart? I hope and pray that this is so.
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