Ah Friends, the Lord certainly blessed me today, re finding a Bit. I didn’t have to search, beg nor beseech Him. I simply opened the Good Book at a bookmark I had inadvertently left in it yesterday, and having now become accustomed to the Lord’s mysterious and miraculous ways, I checked out the situation on those pages, and there it was. I’ve learned over the years to check wherever I first open that invaluable tome, because on many occasions whatever He’s desired me to write on, has been right there. Hopefully that will make me a man of substantial faith like Job. (smile) But Friends, though Job’s widely known as the father of patience, I believe this passage portrays him more as a very faithful man. Here, he’s defending his integrity, after telling his fair-weather friends to shut up and let him talk. (13:5) It’s the same ones who so strongly condemned him as being a big closet sinner, because in their self-righteous thinking, that was the only reason why he would suffer so much adversity so quickly. Job however, thought very differently, and said so: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.’ Think about it nuh Friends; although God threatens to, or indeed kills Job, he will still trust Him and remain faithful. Wow! We very seldom find that happening between man and man. But that’s a monumental statement of faith. The scholars say it ‘expresses the unquenchable faith of one who lives by faith, not by sight.’ And it surely does, for even though it seems that God has turned against him, allowing all the sudden adversity, in spite of his apparent righteousness, Job insists that he’ll keep on keeping on, forever trusting in the God of his fathers. Now my people, this brings us to the rather enormous question of the day; our reaction under similar circumstances? Hn! Would we be big enough, faithful enough to utter words of that ilk, and not only say them, but truly mean them in our hearts? When the Lord searches our innermost parts, will He find them written there in scarlet, or will they be mere words mouthed to appease men and appear faithful? Oh my people, I certainly hope that the answer for all of us will be a brave, bold and resounding YES! But we’ll never know for sure until that sad, eventful day arrives, because we can say all sorts of stuff now, and make all kinds of great and faithful promises, but when the day of disaster and adversity really strikes, it’s usually a different story. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, pray and hope that the Lord doesn’t choose such dramatic measures to prove our faithfulness. Job’s faith there also brings to mind Bruh David’s famous proclamation. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps.23:4) Definitely brave and trusting sentiments mih breddren, but not very easy to come by. Only through great testing and uncompromising deliverance from much tribulation, can we ever acquire such a high level of faith and trust. It’s like Cousin Sol says: ‘The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope (refuge) in his death.’ (Prov.14:32) Yes Friends, unlike the wicked who have nothing but eternal damnation to look forward to when their physical bodies give out, we, the righteous, have a much brighter future in store; the grace of God that brings salvation and eternal life through the sacrificial efforts of our wonderful and glorious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And all God’s people joyously sang: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us!’ This world certainly has nothing better to offer, because all its supposed pleasures are fleeting. And in the second part of the Bit, Job sticks to his guns: ‘But I will maintain mine own ways before him.’ Yes, he was willing to defend his actions before God and not before men. And as he told his friends later on: ‘God forbid, that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.’ (Job 27:5) He’s telling them, far be it from me to say you’re right, and as long as I live I will maintain my integrity before God. It’s the same manner of answer he gave his wife when she was ready to give up and questioned: ‘Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.’ (Job 2:9) But Job wisely recognized that both good and bad happen in concert with God’s will, and we can’t expect it to rain peaches and cream all the time. Awright, for the devil’s advocates, we can expect it, but it simply won’t happen. (smile) Oh Friends, that’s another important question facing us today; in these rough and cruel times, with all sorts of adversity affecting all levels of people, will we retain our integrity when it befalls us, or will we take the advice of Job’s wife; curse God and give up on Him completely? My people, I’d strongly advise that come what may, we never go that route, since it’s fraught with even more pitfalls and adversity. It won’t be easy, for the enemy will be constantly in our ears, beguiling us to throw over the Lord. But if we faithfully stick to our guns, and in those times of adversity, really and truly cry out to the Lord God for help, and like Job, sin not, don’t get angry and curse Him, then He will faithfully acknowledge us in His own time. I know His time always seems a bit tardy, but I guarantee, from personal experience, that it’s never too late. And here’s a rather appropriate scripture to end today’s message. ‘He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.’ (Job 13:16) Bravo Job! Friends, please let’s do likewise and put nobody before our Lord, God, King and Creator. He must always be NUMBER ONE! Much LOVE!…life isn’t always fair…but our God is always good…
SCRIP-BITS 