Job 1:20,21, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
There are times in life when some people lose everything—their family, their
health, their spouse, their career, their home, their equity in their home,
their children, their reputation, et cetera. Jesus said the Devil comes for
one reason, and one reason only—to KILL, STEAL and DESTROY (John 10:10).
It's at times like this when we must remember the Scriptures, for Jesus hath said in Matthew 28:20b, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Amen! Jesus never fails! When all you have is God, you have all you need. In Hebrews 13:5c God promises us, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." When disappointments come, and heartbreaks happen, and friends forsake us, and our family abandons us, and our enemies speak all manner of evil against us, and we suffer great financial loss, and our health worsens, and all we have left is our faith in God—We are right where God wants us, because now we have to depend solely upon Him for everything.
Job had lost his livestock, his crops, his servants, the lives of his ten children, his health and the encouragement of his wife; yet Job blessed the name of the Lord. Even job's so-called “friends” condemned and scorned him. Job called his friends “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2). Job came to the place where he had nothing left but God.
Job 16:20, “My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.”
It is not a coincidence that God inserted the story of Job into His holy Word. God has wondrously shared the tragic life of Job with us in order that we may learn how to deal with suffering, tragic loss and judgmental people. Job maintained his faith in God. Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” There are many people today who can relate to some extent with Job's loss and suffering. There are many people who are going through the pain of divorce. Nothing messes up a person's life like a divorce. It takes years to recover, but you can recover, and there is a future in Jesus Christ for you. Others have lost loved ones to death. Some have experienced the loss of their home, life-savings or a career. Others are enduring serious health problems and constant agonizing pain. Whatever your burden may be, Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Consider the precious words of Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”
In Psalm 18:2 king David said, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Amen! We are not alone. The Lord is our refuge and strength! David had sinned greatly, committing adultery, conspiracy and murder. Yet, David repented and found mercy at the feet of Jesus. David had lost the respect of the people, his throne, his wives, his children, and his friends. In desperation David said, "I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." (Psalm 142:4) Oh, how David suffered in his heart. The man after God's own heart had made a mess of everything. David came to the place where he had nothing left but God.
Jesus Himself was despised and rejected of men. He was scorned, ridiculed and misunderstood. People picked up stones to throw at Jesus and tried to kill Him (John 8:40,59). Jesus was falsely accused, tried and sentenced to death. His disciples all forsook Him. We have a Savior who understands what we're going through. Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Amen! Jesus knows what we're suffering through. He is there for us if we are a child of God, i.e., if we've been born-again into God's family.
The greatest things in life are not things. Jesus said in Luke 12:15b, "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Even if we've lost everything, we can do much for God. We cannot take money and wealth with us to Heaven, but we can sure take people (souls) with us. Oh, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel (Romans 10:15). There is nothing dearer to the heart of God than soulwinning. When you have nothing left but God, tell someone about the wondrous grace of God that brings salvation. Keep your mind focused on Heaven. If you're not familiar with the Scriptures, then start with the Gospel of John and ask God to open your heart and mind to the truth. He will, I assure you.
People sometimes get the erroneous idea that we have to have our life all-together for God to hear our prayers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus came to save sinners. He came to seek that which was lost. Jesus came to justify the ungodly through faith (Romans 4:5). God is willing to receive us just as we are, just so long as we acknowledge our guilt of sin and believe on Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Every believer has the privilege to approach God's throne of grace on the merit of Christ's blood sacrifice. Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Amen! When all you have left is God, you have all you need my friend, for God's grace is available to help each of us in our time of need, no matter how great that need might be.
Psalm 51:12,13, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
