Breaking Point

Job 1:8

I was thinking about the life of Job and everything he had been through. Other than Christ Jesus, there is no greater example for patience in suffering than Job.

As I pondered, I began to wonder why God chose to allow Satan to torture poor Job. Was He provoked into the decision (Job 1:9-11, Job 2:4-5)? No, I don't think that's it. Then I thought, was he somehow intimidated into the decision? No way! So, why did God allow it? And what purpose did it serve? Was it just for God to have an 'I-told-you-so' moment?

God can be provoked, to be sure. But provoking God usually brings judgement to the ones who do the provoking, not to people who obey God in all that they do.

God cannot be intimidated. Not by Satan or anyone else (Isaiah 46:8-11).

Everything God does has a purpose. God does nothing on a whim.

So what was, pondered I, His purpose in allowing Satan to put Job through such a nightmare? I did some digging and some thinking. As the wheels slowly turned in my little head, I remembered a song about suffering and the chorus said that a rough and a rocky road leads to a beautiful place. What was happening to Job had nothing to do with Satan's protests and challenges (as usual, Satan was getting outfoxed). God was leading Job to something that was even greater than all his possessions, greater than his health and physical well being. Job was being taken into the fire (Malachi 3:3)!

Job ended up in the most beautiful place of all. He ended up in the very mind of God. Job ended up with a deep and profound understanding of Who God is. Job 42:5 - "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you"

When we go through trying or even nightmarish times, trust God. There is a reason. If we trust in Him like Job did, we will end up in a beautiful place.

God is AWESOME!

Undo

John 1:29

I spend a lot of time at work doing some pretty boring administrative things. Mostly, I enter data from the field that I use to generate reports in my lab. I sometimes enter the data wrong or accidentally hit a key that makes the program I use do something crazy. I don't panic though. I just move my mouse up and click on the 'undo' button, and all is well.

I was doing my usual work this morning when something dawned on me. In Christ Jesus, we have been given the 'undo'. He has taken away all our sins and given us a new start. Wiped the slate clean(Isaiah 53:11, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

The One who saved us is the Great King. He is The Lamb of God and The Lion of Judah and so much more! (Revelation 19:11-13)

God is AWESOME!

Politics As Usual

Romans 13 and Romans 14:10-12

It's hard to believe it's been nearly four years already. The political season is upon us again. The mud slinging ads, the debates, the photo ops and sound bites, the shaking hands and kissing babies. It's something to watch.

I try to steer clear of politics on my blog. My blog has a specific purpose. I use it as a canvas on which I can spill and splatter my thoughts and opinions about the overwhelming and unsearchable depths of the God to Whom I owe everything. The One Who has forgiven me of more than I could ever know. Our understanding of Him and Who He is hasn't even scratched the surface.

I don't think my views on politics are very popular. When I voice how I really feel about the subject, I'm often told why my thinking is wrong.

My views are as follows:

• The political affiliation of the person holding the office is not relevant.
• The political beliefs of the person holding office are irrelevant.
• The person holding office is there for one reason and one reason only...they were put there by God to advance His agenda and achieve His purposes (Genesis 50:20 and John 19:10-11).

Yes, we should be involved. Yes, we need to exercise our right to vote and yes, vote your conscience. But don't lose site of the bigger picture, of who we are. Our political differences should not mean enough to break fellowship with one another. We are united under Our King. Not a political party.

For we who believe, whose citizenship is in Heaven, the only important thing should be our relationship with our King.

God is AWESOME!

Space...The Final Frontier

Acts 17:24-28

I saw the coverage of the the space shuttle Discovery taking it's last ride on a jumbo jet. There was a picture of it in the New York skyline. It was something to see. That shuttle and it's crew have been where only a handful of people in all of history have ever been.

The exploration of space is far from over, though. We continue receive pictures from probes that have been sent into the farthest reaches of the universe. From the amazing Hubble telescope. We can see galaxies and planets that in the past, we could only imagine. Plans are being made for manned missions to other planets. We have rovers on Mars.

We are seeking. Groping in the darkness (Isaiah 59:10, John 1:1-11). Desperately trying to find answers to the questions: Why are we here? What is our origin?

The answer is right there. Plain as the nose on your face. (Romans 1:19-21, Acts 17:27).

Those of us who have trusted in Christ Jesus have the light. We have been taken out of the darkness. We no longer grope, we now see clearly. We have taken hold of the hope that Christ Jesus has held out to us. We have the answer.

It is now our mission to take that answer and share it with anyone who will listen. To hold out the same hope that drew us out of the darkness. To hold high the light of Truth (John 12:32).

God is AWESOME!

Solace in Thunder

John 12:28-29

There are a lot of storms this time of year. When there is a storm approaching or leaving, it is nice to sometimes sit outside and watch the lightning flash and listen to the thunder roll.

I can remember times when it thundered so loud that the house shook and windows rattled. We would be so startled. People would cry out in surprise and fear. Some would scream, others would just yell "Wow!" really loud.

The sound of thunder is a great reminder of how awesome our great God is.

In the bible, often times when God speaks, people compare His voice to thunder. In fact, in some cases, His voice was mistaken for thunder (John 12:29).

When I think about the fact that I have been adopted by God Almighty, and how I have been saved by the actions of the Lamb of God (John 1:29, John 1:36, Isaiah 53:5), I am thankful beyond words for the understanding that the Lion of Judah is worthy of worship (Revelation 5).

I know that no matter how bad it may get, I can still trust in my God (John 16:33).

I know that He is able to do the impossible.

I know He is bigger than any problem I could ever have...because His voice sounds like thunder!

God is AWESOME!

Beauty For Ashes

Isaiah 61:1-3

If you are over the age of 5, chances are you have experienced disappointment or heartache of some sort. It is part of the human condition.

We all have that one person in our lives that we can really talk to. The one who knows us better than any other person on the planet. The one who knows our secrets and our hopes and dreams.

For me, that person is my wife. I know I can tell her anything and it is safe with her. She always seems to have just the right thing to say.

I was married once before. The way it ended devastated me. My whole world burned around me. My ability to trust anyone was destroyed. The experience turned me into a bitter, synical man. It nearly caused me to question my faith.

But then God did what He always does. He gathered up the ashes of my little world and took them away. He traded my ashes for His beauty, and my sadness for His gladness. He bound up my broken heart and He broke down the walls of mistrust I had labored on for so many years.

Cheryl is the beauty and the gladness He sent to me (Proverbs 31:10-29).

God is AWESOME!

Firstborn

Colossians 1:18

The sun was just peaking over the horizon. The first rays of light shone through the early morning mist.

This quiet spring morning, the hearts of those who followed Him were broken and heavy with fear and disappointment. Two women walked up a path toward the tomb of their beloved Teacher. Their faces red and tear stained, their steps slow and heavy. Their hearts filled with grief and the dread of the task at hand.

The early morning silence is broken. The sound of the heavy stone being moved echoes. The ground shakes under it's weight as it is dragged away from the opening of the tomb. The courage of the battle hardened Roman guards melted at the site of this mighty angelic being dragging the impossibly heavy stone. They fall to the ground like dead men.

The stone was not moved to let anyone out. He was already gone. It was moved so that the women walking up the path could see in (Matthew 28:1-6).

Jesus, the Christ. The Great King. He lay down His life for us, and for us, He took it up again. He reached out with His strong arm and pulled us back from beyond hope's reach. Salvation has come! (John 10:14-18)

Thank you, Father, that You loved us so that You gave Your only begotten Son. Thank You for freeing us from sin and making us clean. Thank You for raising Him from the dead so that Christ Jesus could take His rightful place at Your right Hand, as the Firstborn from the dead.