A Sobering Thought

Have you ever read the book of Job? If not, that is OK, I just read it myself. Here is an excerpt of the story:

"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord." Job 1:8-12

So in other words, God allowed Satan to attack Job by removing His protection from him. Now God is the same today, yesterday and forever, so it stands to reason that God at times removes His protection from me and allows Satan to attack me. 

Wow, sober yet? The thought of this gets my attention. My initial reaction is to be appalled. I feel like: Is that what I am worth to you? I am not going to participate in this war. Then it dawned on me. I don't think I have a choice. Bad things are going to happen to me whether I participate or not, whether I believe in God or not. Actually, I need all the help I can get. So if I wasn't offended by this chapter in the bible, is there something that I might get from it?...and here it is:

God's in Control

Sounds like a cliche, right. Especially if you don't believe in God or Jesus. Maybe it is the very reason why you don't believe. Anyways, it is a hard reality, I agree. 

But did your parents ever allow something to happen to you instead of saving you from that decision? Say... Yes. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right Or like it says in the bible in 1 Peter 1:7NIV
 
"These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

What we believe is so important that it is worth more then gold, and it needs to be exercised. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Now I know what you are thinking...Why would a benevolent God allow this? Our God loves us so much that He wants us to know ourselves. He doesn't want us to be something we are not, He wants us to be the best me that we can be. The best me that we can be is wrap up in our faith. It is wrapped up in what we believe. He also wants to help, but we have to want His help.

You know being tested is not such a far fetched idea. At our jobs, before we move to another position we are tested. In school, before we go to another grade or move to another subject we are tested . Before we can be accepted into the Army, we are tested. If we were not tested, how would we know what we are made of? Is your objection God should know what we are made of? Well, He does that is why we are not tested beyond our abilities. The question is do you know what you are made of? Do you believe what God knows about you?

It is a sobering thought that there are forces beyond our control acting against us and on our behalf. It is a sobering thought we are not alone. It is a sobering thought that it is not about us. It is a sobering thought that the God of the universe cares what we believe enough to test that belief to make sure it is beneficial to us. It a sobering thought that God wants me to believe about myself what He believes about me. The more I read the bible, the more I love my God and the person He is turning me into through what I believe.