One of the most mind-bending experiences anyone could endure is to come to the point where he must admit that his theology, his understanding of God and what God expects is wrong. It is a very traumatic time, when one comes to the realization that what he believes about life and even what comes afterward just isn’t so. How does one fix that? It may also be a very dangerous time, especially for folks who have always been told what to believe. If one isn’t used to plowing the fields of the word of God and has always accepted what the ‘experts’ said was true, then it is very distressing to find out that you believed lies. Who can you trust, now? It is also stressful for folks who are used to making their own decisions about God and life, because when the bottom drops out, you must ask: “Where did I go wrong?” and “How do I know I’ll do better next time?” I’ve walked down both paths, and, believe me, eventuality, it is better, much better, to go through the second.
Job was distressed, because life for him no longer made sense. Why didn’t it make sense? He believed in the truism: what one sows is what one reaps. What we’ve discovered in my previous study is that truisms, while generally true, aren’t always true. In as much as I can tell, the problem is that, during Job’s day, this theology was what most wise folks believed and taught as absolute fact. We know it was the collective consensus of at least several societies in that period. “What you sow, that shall you also reap” was believed by all three of Job’s friends, and they lived in three different communities. It was the bone of contention used by satan to accuse God of living under the delusion that folks loved and revered him. Folks revered God, because he blessed them. If he took away the blessings, he’d find that those same servants, whom he blessed all their lives, would soon betray him and cease any involvement with him (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5).
Is there any such thing as a truly righteous person, or is it all merely a game played between a delusional god and greedy religious folks who flatter him in order to keep the blessings coming? Well, reading the book enables one to see what Job doesn’t see. There’s this cosmic drama happening behind the curtain, but Job isn’t privy to any of it. If integrity matters at all, that is what is at stake here. Satan has accused both God and Job of having no integrity, and whatever one may think of Job’s suffering, what’s at stake, or who’s at fault, the Lord has confidence in Job that he’ll be able to pull through this and come out the other side a better person. The question we’re asking at this point is: ‘would Job consider the whole ordeal worth the prize that comes to him in the end?’ Well, I’ve peeked at the climax, and I know he does consider it worth all the pain, suffering and humiliation he had to endure.
Nevertheless, there are those among us, who won’t believe it’s all real. In one sense, I say: “So what! You don’t get to say what’s true and what’s not for all of us. I’ve had it with folks like you in my life, and I won’t empower you or folks like you ever again.” That said, the Lord did take satan’s opinion seriously enough to permit this cosmic drama to take place. So, what can be said to folks who simply won’t believe?
For the record, like most folks I’ve met and read about, I’ve gone through some bad times myself, certainly not to the extent of Job’s nightmarish ordeal, but pain is pain, and who really measures depression or hopelessness? I know where I was, and I was at my wits end. There were folks I loved that were involved. Betrayal was part of all that, and help was needed, but sacrifices had to be made, if help was to be given. All I hoped for had vanished. I was a young man, and I saw my future disappear before my eyes, because I was needed by those I loved. I grew up quickly, and when all was said and done, I was a better person after it was over. It did end, but I couldn’t see the end coming. For all intents and purposes, I was committed for the rest of my life, but after a while and without warning the night gave way to day, and the sun rose once more on my life, and I had a future. Question: knowing all that happened, would I do it again? You damn, betcha, I would. I would do it again and again. Integrity matters! I didn’t always act like it did, but at the end of the day, and when everything I valued was at stake, I went on record during the days of my youth to say “Integrity matters!” Nevertheless, I don’t have to do it again and again to prove to every Tom, Dick or Harry who complains God asks too much. And surprise, surprise, neither does Job! He did it once and for all, so no one would ever have to be taken to that extreme ever again.
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