" ¹ There is Therefore now no
condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit.
² For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
Roman's 8:1-2
To understand what these 2 verses are talking about, go back and read Romans chapter 7, the apostle Paul speaks of this struggle, where he does the things that he doesn't want to do, and doesn't do the things that he should do, because the flesh is weak, and it will give into temptation when not walking in the Spirit. Yet he knew that it was not him that did the things that was not good, it was the sin that dwelt in him. Likewise, with any good he had done, was not him that did it, rather, Christ dwelling in him.
That's where probably most of us have a problem. We're all to eager to lay all the wrongs that we do at the feet of "sin dwelling in me", while wanting to take credit for the good.
I know, I have one speaking of a sacrifice I made, but it wasn't to take any credit. I was hoping that the one's, other than the one's the sacrificed for would see how much it actually helped them as well. They would realize it, and in love and gratefulness, pool their money together and sustained me, just until I can get back on my feet. As Christians , that's kinda what we are suppose to do.
I was reminded of something. Once God gets me through this, and I have successfully completed the test He set before me; I'll have one incredible testimony!
"Well, how will you know if you've past the test?" you may be asking. Glad you asked.
I know that Joel, speaking on the behalf of God is addressing the people as a nation, but surely this can be applied on an individual level as well. After all, it takes people dwelling in a land to have a nation; otherwise, it's just a desolate land.
" ²⁵ And I will restore to you the years that
the locust hath eaten, and the
cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and
the palmerworm, my great army
which I sent you
²⁶ And ye shall eat in plenty, and be
satisfied, and praise the name of the
LORD your God, that has dwelt
wondrously with you: and my people
shall never be ashamed.
²⁷ And ye shall know that I am in the
midst of Israel, and that I am the
LORD your God and none else: and
my people shall never be ashamed."
Joel 2:25-27
Wait! that was on a national level! Yes it is, and I did say that before including them, but, if you want it more on a personal level, let's take a look at the book of Job. Job 1:1-5, is telling us who job is, and all that he had.
" ⁶ Now there was a day when the son's
of God came to present theirselves
before The LORD, and Satan came
also among them.
⁷ And The LORD said unto Satan, Whence
comest thou? Then Satan answered
The LORD, and said, From going to and
fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it.
⁸ 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?
⁹ Then Satan answered the LORD, and
said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:6-9"
That's enough to set the stage, but the conversation between God and Satan continues through verse 12, if you want to continue reading.
The conversation between God and Satan has concluded in verse 12,
V.13 picks up with a day that his children was all gathered in their oldest brother's house.
A messenger is the only one left alive to tell Job that his oxyen and donkeys were all slain by the Sabeans. v.1:14-15.
While the messenger was yet speaking, another messenger came to let Job know that fire had consumed all the sheep and servants, and he was the only one that made it out to bring the sad new. v.1:16
Not done yet, still have 2 more to go.
While the second messenger was speaking, a third one runs and tells Job that the Chaldeans took the camels and slain the servants v.1:17
And we finally get to the last bit of bad news, the messenger that made it out to tell Job that a wind came and the house fell in on Job's children, and killed them all v1:18-19
How does one survive all of this terrible news and loss, and in quick succession? One messenger was not even finished speaking before the next one came with more bad news.
Look at how Job's reaction and response to all this tragedy that came upon him.
" ²⁰ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle
and shaved his head, and fell down
upon the ground and worshipped,
²¹ And said, naked I came out of my
mother's womb, and naked I shall
return thither: The LORD gave, and
The LORD hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:20-21
and chapter 1 clsoes with:
" ²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged
God foolisly. "
I'm sure alot of us, rather in a post on social media, heard someone say it, or in the song by the same name: " Blessed be the name of The LORD." In the song, it recognizes that rather you are on the highest mountain top, or in the lowest debths of hell; this should always be the response to both.
If you didn't already know, this is where that song came from. The words was originally recorded from a man of great sorry and loss.
Now let's move on from Job loosing all that he had, to now loosing his health. Once again, we read in Job chapter 2, the same conversation take place between God and Satan, with some slight variations:
" ¹ Now there was a day when the son's
of God came to present theirselves
before The LORD, and Satan came
also among them.
² And The LORD said unto Satan, Whence
comest thou? Then Satan answered
The LORD, and said, From going to and
fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it.
³ 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?
and still he holdest fast his integrity,
although thou movest me against
him, to destroy him without cause.
⁴ And Satan answered The LORD, and
said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a
man hath will he give give for his life?
⁵ But put forth thine hand now, and
touch his bone and his flesh,
and he will curse thee to thy face.
⁶ And The LORD said unto Satan, ,
Behold, he is in thine hand; but save
his life.
Job 2:1-6"
Job is stricken with sores and boils from head to toe v.2:7, his wife says that he should just go ahead and, curse God and die. v.2:9, .. and Job's answer to her in v.2:10.
From chapter 2:11, all the way through to chapter 37, Job's friends come to mourn with him, and to comfort him. The first 7 days went by well, as none of them opened their mouth, they just sat quietly with him. 2:13
Job was the first to speak, in which he questions why he was survived his birth.
After that, it was on. It was a back and forth of his "friends" and "comforters" telling him of how he brought all this on himself. Of some grievous sin in his life that made God angry, and this is his judgement. I guess we have all heard that a time or two in our life time.
Below are just a couple of Job's responses back to them, which I found to be rather humorous:
" ¹ Then Job answered and said,
² I have heard many such things:
miserable comforters are ye all.
³ Shall vein words have an end?
Or what emboldened thee that
thou answerest?
Job 16:1-3
" ³⁴ How then comfort ye , me in vein seeing
in your answers there remains
falsehood?
Job 21:34
It is in Chapter 38:4-41:34, in which I count 50 questions. That's a lot of questions, that God counsel job with. Much of it is quite funny to as God fires question upon question at him.
Job chapter 421:6 , Job is speaking and answering The LORD, in which he repents
v.7-8, God's wrath is kindled against the 3 counselors, " for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. v.42:7(b)
God tells these 3 knuckle heads, what they offer as a offering v.8. They do as instructed in v.9.
" ¹⁰ And the LORD turn the captivity of
when he prayed for his friends: also
The LORD gave Job twice as much as
he had before..
Job 42:10
And of course, just as it is today, once Job is back on the mountain, all of his brethren and sister's, and acquaintances return. v.11, and they all gave something.
V.12, The LORD blessed the latter end of Job.
Job lived 140 years after this, and lived to see 4 generations of his family.
Talk about a story of restoration. Not that's one. And to think, I used to avoid this book like the plague. My loss.
The take away is, no matter how far down you are, it's not to far for God to reach down and lift you back up. Don't argue with friends and counselors that tell you how you brought this all on yourself, and in doing so, misrepresent God. Don't get mad at them either. Remember v.42:10 that said " The LORD turned the captivity of Job" once he prayed for his friends.
Hey, the meant well, they just had no knowledge of God.
Acknowledge whatever trial your in is real. You should know, as you are the one going through, just don't take your eye's off of God, and He will get you though it!
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