Job just found out everything that belonged to him was destroyed including his children, how did he respond to this news? “Job stood up and tore his robe IN GRIEF. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground TO WORSHIP. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. PRAISE the name of THE LORD!” In all of this, Job DID NOT SIN BY BLAMING GOD.” (Job 1:20-22) Job had an intimate relationship and an understanding of who God really was, he said, “…after my body has decayed, yet in my body I WILL SEE GOD! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him WITH MY OWN EYES. I am overwhelmed at the thought!” (Job 19:26-27)
There is Abraham who, when God instructed him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice He did it all the way to raising his knife to plunge it into his heart, “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able TO BRING HIM BACK TO LIFE AGAIN…” (Heb. 11:17-19)
Paul shared this testimony BENITA, “I was caught up to the third heaven…Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows…I do know that I was caught up to paradise and HEARD THINGS SO ASTOUNDING that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses…For to me, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I REMAIN IN THE BODY.” (2 Corin. 12:2-5) (Phil. 1:21-24)
LET’S DRAW CLOSE TO GOD JUST AS THESE MEN DID, GOD WOULD BE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham