Hebrews 10:35 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith". ....
This passage of scripture tells us that great patience needs to be exercised in traveling the straight and narrow pathway, for we are sometimes tempted to give up, and turn our backs on the great salvation that has been provided by God. The hope and promise of eternal life is what puts every experience of life into its proper perspective, and though at times we might be buffeted with doubts, or harassed by the enemy of souls, yet if we patiently endure the trial of our faith, we will reap in due time if we faint not.
Every person who enlists themselves in the service of Christ will have tribulation, and will be sorely tempted along logical lines by the devil, who is bent on causing us to stumble, through the daunting circumstances we go through at times. This was the case with Job, who for very many years had been walking in the sunshine of God's love and blessings, when suddenly and without warning, there was a change of fortune in which the circumstances of his life took a turn for the worse. In just a short period of time Job lost everything he held dear on this earth, for he lost all of his children, all of his cattle, almost all of his many servants, and to add to all of his troubles, he was smitten by the enemy with a loathsome disease, which produced boils and sores and scabs, to the point where he could not stand in the presence of people.
It was at this lowest point, when there seemed to be no rational explanation for his sudden misfortunes, as his world was apparently caving in, that he was tempted by satan to cast away his confidence in God, for it seemed illogical to mere human reasoning to continue serving The Lord, who had permitted this change of events. Let's read:
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But Job remained steadfast throughout his grueling ordeal, and though he was never given an explanation for the unexpected change of events, yet he continued to keep his eyes lifted heavenward, and in his own words, echoed the hope and sentiments which should garrison the mind of every Christian, as we pass through some of the harrowing vicissitudes of life, which tempt us to turn back from following God. Let's read:
Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him".
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. .....
In our own experiences there will be times when there may seem to be no logical reason for a sudden change of events or fortune, when the proverbial carpet seems to be pulled out from under our feet. Yet if like Job, we keep our gaze focused in the heavens, God will in His own time and way, lift us up and renew unto us the joys of salvation. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that encourages us to press on without looking back, for soon God will come to put an end to this world as we know it, and those who remain faithful until the end will certainly be saved in His kingdom. Let's read:
Philippians 3:13 "But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you"
May God add His blessing to the study and doing of His every word. God bless!