To be able to know the end of a situation from its beginning would seemingly be of great value in the life of a Christian. Unfortunately, the abilities of man leave him with a view of life much like that of viewing a mountain range that is far off in the distance.
As one stands looking out into the horizon, he sees vast mountain peaks covered in snow. He sees some of its ridges and clefts, and depending on how far away he is, he may even be able to see the summit.
While there is a percentage of the mountain that he can see, it is actually a relatively small percentage. It may also be covered by other mountains or trees which would block his view even more. Maybe there is a home in the way, and the mountain is obstructed to an even further degree.
Along with these problems, the man is seeing the mountain in an almost two-dimensional type of fashion. He cannot fully see the right side or the left side of the mountain, and to make matters worse, the other side of the mountain is entirely out of sight. The man is left with only a partial picture of what is there or what is to come.
If this same man were to climb the mountain and go down the other side, he would in fact see the other side. If he wanted to travel to the left side or the right side of the mountain on foot, he could see them too. Unfortunately, this would take time, and all this man currently has is a view of what’s in front of him. As of yet, time has not permitted this man to know what is on the other side. All he knows is that there is a mountain in front of him.
However, there is a way to see the mountain as a whole. If one were able to look at this same mountain from a different vantage point, say, from above it in a helicopter, then all of the mountain would be seen. Thus, the man would see the whole picture. God sees everything within His creation this way – He sees it all. While man cannot have this vantage point in his own life, he can gain strength by looking at the whole picture in the lives of others.
Job’s Story
The book of Job can be a great source of encouragement in the life of an afflicted Christian. Job was a good man and even declared to be blameless. This means that nobody was able to bring an accusation against Job’s life. He was a blameless man. He truly walked with God and lived a life that was pleasing to Him.
However, a day came when Satan wanted to torment and tempt Job. God believed that Job would remain faithful. Satan believed that Job would curse God.
God allowed Satan a measure of freedom to tempt Job. God believed that this would both bring Him glory and bring about good in Job’s life. The Scriptures are replete with encouraging words during times of affliction:
• Trials bring about steadfastness and Christian maturity (James 1:3-4)
• Suffering produces praise (1 Pet. 1:7)
• Suffering produces rejoicing (1 Pet. 4:13)
• Affliction produces an eager expectation, longing, and appreciation for heaven (2 Cor. 4:17)
• Suffering is said to produce endurance, which in turn produces character, which in turn produces hope (Rom. 5:3-4)
• Affliction produces law keeping (Ps. 119:68)
• Affliction produces learning (Ps. 119:71)
• Affliction produces a reliance on God (Ps. 119:50)
Job went through a lot in his life. Job’s animals were stolen, his servants were killed, his children died, then Job’s health began to fail him. Job was a wreck, and everything within his life seemed to look as though God’s judgment had fallen on him. To top it all off, Job’s three friends kept accusing Job of being in the mess he was in because of sin that he had committed.
Even Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. What a challenge that must have been for Job to remain steadfast in the midst of trial. However, he did, and at the end of the story, the Bible declares that Job gained a relationship with God like he never had before (Job 42:5).
Application
Seeing Job’s life from the beginning to the end can help the believer in the midst of trial. God was always for Job and never stopped being for Job. God also brought Job through the trial and blessed him beyond measure afterwards. Trust in the Lord in the midst of your trial. He helped Job through, and He will help you, too.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the story of Job. I pray that You would help me trust You in the midst of my trials. In Jesus’ name, Amen.