Let us pray: Dear Lord, we humans are trapped in our bodies and limited by our mortality. But You are not! You are limitless! So, when we get down on life and start moaning about how our bodies have let us down, remind us that You created us, know every aspect of our being, and because You love us in Christ, You’ll make sure that all things will eventually work out for our good. Lord, fill us with that good cheer and confidence. Amen
GRACE MERCY AND PEACE ARE YOURS FROM OUR GREAT AND LOVING LORD!
TEXT: Job 38: 1-11
Dearly Beloved By Christ:
The entire Bible is God’s Word. Through it He speaks directly to us. That being said, certain sections are “direct” quotes from God’s lips. Job contains probably the longest sections of such quotes, including today’s text. So, listen and learn.
All of us get down on ourselves. We’re burdened with guilt over our sins. We lose loved ones and hit emotional lows. We get sick or a chronic condition grinds us down. The list is endless. And every time that occurs we ask: Why? Why me, Lord? Don’t You love me? The problem is: we’re trapped in mortality. We see only a small slice of existence, our current existence. But, God sees the entire canvas of life and He’s adding brush strokes on a daily basis.
I
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said, ‘Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched out a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone–while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?’”
God’s being rhetorical here, but He puts all of us in our place. Who are we to question God’s goodness? He’s the Creator of all—including us. He knows every intimate detail of our lives. He knows every synapse in our brain and how it fires. He has the hairs of our head all numbered. He gave us life. And yet we question His judgment and His goodness? Right here we get an insight into how much our original sin blinds us to God.
The rest of our lesson and the next couple of chapters go into even more detail. God discusses the intimate details of all creation and how He governs them and knows them. Not
one thing escapes Him. And because He is good and gracious, His intent behind ordering all creation is also good and gracious. I especially like these verses which address our morose attitude: “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.”
Sin causes people to question God’s goodness and wisdom. Sin causes people to ask God in an accusatory fashion: Why? Sin causes unbelief and brings the attendant emotional and physical pain.
II
But, as Malachi says elsewhere: “The Sun of righteousness has arisen, with healing in its (His) wings!” Yes, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life!” God had a plan to alleviate our suffering—eternally. It was and is Jesus Christ. Our suffering and our rage against mortality was fixed by Christ as He died to and for all sin and then arose in all rightness with God! He did this for you and me. It’s ours through His gift of faith—to us.
From faith comes acceptance as to Who God really is. Through faith comes acceptance that we may be mortal right now, but His resurrection conveys to us immortality. Through faith comes resistance to avoid beating ourselves down with “Why me?” and to revel instead in: “Yes, me!” Yes, You love me. Yes, You have a grace filled purpose in mind for my life! Yes, I can rejoice and be glad over Your goodness—if I but open my eyes to see it! My mother used to say: “With God in the heavens, all is right with the world.” Since Christ, the Conqueror of all evil has ascended to heaven as your Forerunner, all will be right for you, too. So every time you start feeling down and asking: “Why?” think back on this sermon and banish such thoughts…..Amen
THE peace of God which….
Pastor Thomas H. Fox