January 22
Job 12:1-14:22
Do you really trust God? When answering this question, you should take the time to pause and consider whether you are answering what you think others would like to hear, answering in a way that makes you look most spiritual, or answering the way you truly believe in your heart and your mind. In these chaotic times the answer to this one question will often determine whether you face each day in peace and security knowing that no one has the ability to alter one single thing that God has already decided for us personally or nationally, or whether you face each day in the fear of the unknown. Though we are not to put God to the test and behave irresponsibly, this answer determines whether or not the days of your life is in His hands or is based on your every decision. Though some are saddened by the trajectory of our nation, others are elated. Peace through this transition and through any future transitions is based on whether we trust that God is allowing things to move forward according to His ordained plans, or whether we believe that we are actually steering our own ship. As we continue through our journey through the Scriptures, hopefully peace comes, as you realize that we can trust in our God, who is present, who cares, and whose eyes never leave us individually.
We read in Job 14:5, "You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer." We read in Psalm 139:16, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." This seems fairly straightforward that before we were even born, God already knows the length of our days on this earth. Do we believe this? Do we trust Him in this? For if you do, you need not walk in fear day in and day out wondering what outside factor might cut your days short. We read in Job 12:18,23-24, "He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist...He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them. He strips kings of understanding and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland." We read in Acts 17:26, "From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries." Do we believe this? Do we trust that God is moving His story according to His will and that He determines when and how nations will rise and fall? For if you do, and if you trust God to do what is right, then we will be reminded that our citizenship is in heaven, and we are merely ambassadors on this planet (Philippians 3:20). Job maintained his faith in God despite not fully comprehending a key component of the story. Though we know of the reality of eternity, Job wasn't sure, as we read in Job 14:14, "Can the dead live again? If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle, and I would eagerly await the release of death." Does the reality of heaven give you peace as chaos occurs on earth?
We have God's story enclosed in the sixty-six books of Scripture. We can choose to trust in this and experience the peace that God is offering, or we can choose to trust in our efforts, our intellect, our luck, etc. We don't have all the answers specifically. Only God knows exactly how, when, and why certain events take place. But our trust must not be in figuring this out as much as trusting in Him who already has it all figured out. There is no peace when we trust in the world, its leaders, etc. The only true peace comes from God. So when, fear and despair creep in, remember Philippians 4:6-7, "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Yes, despite the chaos, God offers you peace. That is trust, and it is based on faith, which is believing in Him, even though we don't necessarily understand everything that is happening.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: