The End of the World as we Know it and What it Means for the Church

(For an introduction and background see the previous article).

The Church in Ephesus

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary,” (Revelation 2:2-3).

            Jesus opens by commending several aspects of the Ephesian church, praising them for enduring against persecution and evil. In verse three he gives a similar praise about suffering for the name of Christ and not giving up. No doubt Christians were undergoing immense pressure to conform to the world and forsake their faith in Christ. He also commends them for testing those who claimed to be apostles but were actually not. The specifics of what these false apostles were doing are unclear, but we can infer that the church was tested by people who were preaching either false doctrine, promoting immoral behavior, or distorting the gospel. Either way the Ephesian Christians were able to sift through these false apostles and resist them. So endurance against evil, false doctrine, false teachers and forsaking the faith are praised by Jesus Christ. Now what does he condemn?

“But I have this against you: that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first,” (Rev. 2:4-5).

            The church is criticized for losing the love they had initially for Christ. How odd that a church can be commended in one sense for their faithful endurance but yet be criticized for losing their love of Christ. What a scary thought this should be for present day Christians. We may be faithful to serve and hold fast to truth, but if we do not maintain our love for the Savior we are in danger of the rebuke of Christ. So the Ephesians are commended for their endurance against evil and holding fast to the gospel, but are criticized for losing their love for Christ. Let’s look at what Jesus has to say to the next church.

The Church in Smyrna

“I know your tribulation and your poverty, (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life,” (Rev. 2:9-10).

            There’s not really a direct commendation or criticism here. The church is praised for their endurance in tribulation, slander and suffering. They are encouraged to endure what they are about to suffer with the promise that the faithful unto death will be rewarded by Christ. We can safely say Jesus desires endurance and faithfulness to Christ and the gospel in the midst of persecution, slander, and tribulation.

The Church in Pergamum

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells,” (Rev. 2:13).

            The Church in Pergamum is commended for holding fast to their faith in Christ and to the gospel even while one of their members was killed for his faith. Again we see endurance in the midst of persecution praised by Jesus. Unfortunately there are several things Jesus speaks against in the church.

            “But I have a few things against you[1]; you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolatians. Therefore repent,” (Revelation 2:14-16a).

            Without getting too deep into the context of the church we can clearly see there were issues with the church holding to incorrect beliefs which were leading to immoral physical and sexual behavior. The issue of believing truth and behaving rightly are strongly interconnected. Right belief usually produces right behavior. Wrong behavior usually is a precursor to believing falsehood. Here we see Jesus is concerned with his church believing truth and practicing righteousness. He warns them to change their mind or “repent” and thus[2] change their behavior. And just as bonus here, I will include the promise of reward Jesus gives to the church. (Jesus includes several of these promises in these chapters, but this one is pretty cool). “To the one who conquers…I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it,” (Rev. 2:17). Faithfulness to Christ, his word and his righteousness is again praised.

The Church in Thyatira

“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first,” (Rev. 2:19)

            Jesus again opens his words to the church with commendation. He praises their love, faith, service and endurance. By this account they are a faithful and growing church. But the criticism given by Christ is unfortunately pretty long.

“But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols,” (Rev. 2:20).

            Christ goes onto speak of the punishment which will come upon this “Jezebel”[3] and those who follow her teachings. Let’s just say it doesn't end well for anyone involved. We can see again how the church was being affected by immoral belief and immoral behavior. In this case it was sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols,[4] a practice rejected by the apostles and leaders of the church at that time. Jesus condemns unrighteous belief and unrighteous behavior within the church. He calls them to repent of their deeds and hold fast to what is right. “But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching…only hold fast what you have until I come,” (Rev. 2:24-25).

            We’ve got three more churches to go[5], but let’s stop here and look back. What are the characteristics in the churches which were consistently praised and encouraged by Christ? Endurance and faithfulness. He praises those churches that held fast to the gospel, to truth, and to righteous behavior, even in the face of persecution, death, false teaching and evil. Furthermore, the end of each speech to the church ends with Christ saying, “To the one who conquers…”, (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26), and then the promise of reward. Conquering implies endurance, faithfulness, and overcoming odds. Clearly Jesus desires the church be filled with those who, in the face of an evil and contentious world, hold fast to truth, morality, and to Him.

            Conversely, what does Jesus condemn? He condemns the church for losing its love for Christ. He criticizes them for tolerating immorality, false teaching and false prophets. I believe false belief and false behavior will be consistent issues addressed by God and the apostles as we study the purpose and desired product of the church. The Lord here specifically rebukes both. Right doctrine should lead to righteous behavior. Righteous behavior will not exist without truth. On the flip side, immoral behavior will ultimately lead to a corruption of your belief system and believing false teaching about God, Jesus, man, sex, money, marriage, love, and truth will ultimately lead to a depraved lifestyle.

             We’ve reviewed four of the seven churches of Revelation. In some ways it’s pretty awesome and in other ways it is incredibly humbling. We’re hopefully building a framework from which we can understand God’s desired purpose and product for His church. As we As today is the day before Easter, I conclude by hoping our time in Revelation be both a blessing and a challenge to all of us in our own walk with the Savior who is risen, he is risen indeed.

Questions for you, the reader[6]:

- How do these commendations speak to our understanding of God’s desired purpose and product of the church?

- How do the criticisms given by Christ speak to God’s desired purpose and product of His church?

- If Jesus were to speak about your life would he commend you for your endurance to truth and righteous living? Or would he “have a few things against you?”

- Does your church create an atmosphere of “conquering”, holding fast to truth, the gospel, and to righteousness? Does your church promote endurance in your faith? Does your church promote moral purity in thought and heart?  

- How’s your level of sexual purity? That seems to be somewhat important to the risen Savior.

- How’s your love of Christ? How does it relate to your earlier life in Christ? Is it higher, lower? Growth in our love of God seems to be important to Jesus, (see the church at Ephesus and also the greatest commandment).

- What is your view of truth and the Bible? Right belief is a priority to the one who is “the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades,” (Rev. 1:17-18).

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[1] Can you imagine Jesus saying that to you? Just the thought of it gives me the willies.

[2] Yes, I said “thus”.

[3] You don’t see a lot of babies named Jezebel, do you?

[4] The food sacrificed to idols thing is a longer discussion entirely.

[5] You know, because 3+4 = 7, except in Common Core math.

[6] Don’t worry. I’m asking myself these uncomfortable questions too. 

The End of the World and the Purposes of the Church

What does the last book of the Bible have to say to the churches?

            Normally when you study something you would start at beginning.[1] If you wanted to study the history of basketball then you would go back to James Naismith. If you wanted to study the history of the United States then you would start with the Pilgrims, George Washington, and all those guys whose faces are on our money. But, because I am a brilliant Journalism major I am going to switch things up and look at the church from the end of the Bible, the book of Revelation. Don’t try this sort of start-your-study-from-the-end stuff on your own. Only I, as a not so professional journalist and theologian (ahem) can do this sort of thing.

            We are studying the Bible to try and determine God’s purpose and designed product of the church. This sort of study requires that we look at all of the writings in the New Testament which speak to our subject, the church. We’re not going to be able to find our answer in one singular passage, book, or letter. If we want an accurate picture we will have to look at each book and author and divine the answer. Therefore, what I will aim to do in these articles is look at each letter and in some cases, letters,  in an attempt to review those passages which speak to our question of what should be the purpose and product of the church. Why, you ask, are we starting in Revelation? Because in the Revelation to John the Lord Jesus Christ directly provides several commendations and criticisms of the seven churches to whom he addresses. These positive and negative comments give us a helpful glimpse into what Christ wants from his church. This will give us a framework to begin putting the pieces together of our study. We also must consider the importance and gravity of what Christ is saying. This is the last book of the Bible. Here Jesus is speaking directly to seven churches in a time of great suffering and persecution. The context and timing of this book tells us, the reader, that the words written here should be taken of utmost importance. So without further ado[2] let’s dig in.

            Revelation is one of the most hotly debated and scrutinized books of the Bible. (Anytime you start talking about the end of the world there is bound to be some controversy). Therefore I’m not going to get too deep into the debated topics. I think it’s agreed upon that Revelation was written in time of great suffering and persecution for the church of Christ. Christians, including the author of Revelation, were jailed for their beliefs. The Roman government was becoming more and more hostile to believers. Additionally, most if not all of the original apostles had died or were dying. Would the church continue to be faithful to the apostles’ message and the gospel in such a difficult time? Thus we have the contextual background of the letter.

            What we’re going to do is look at Jesus comments to each of the churches, note the commendations and criticisms and then see what those commendations and criticisms have to say about God’s designed purpose and product of the church. We will be looking at the opening three chapters in which Jesus speaks to the churches. So what happens? Jesus shows up, scares John to death[3] and tells him to write letters to seven different churches.

            Okay, so that was basically a long intro into what the next few articles will be about. Up next: Jesus’ words to the churches.

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[1] Brilliant statement, I know.

[2] Does anyone know what “ado” is anyway?

[3] Most people are scared seeing men risen from the dead…or so I’ve heard.

So What is the Church Anyway?

            So what is the church? I suppose before we start talking about its designed purpose and product we should first answer this question: What is the church?

            The church is identified as people both universally and locally who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They believe Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins and was raised from the grave on the third day. They have submitted themselves to follow Jesus as Lord and seek obedience to his commands. This group of believers is also known as the body of Christ. It is made up of men and women from every nation, race, and language all over the world. In this sense the church is universal, meaning it contains every believer all over the universe, (except on Jupiter, but that’s another discussion altogether). In another sense there are local gatherings where Christians get together to worship Jesus, learn from the Bible and share fellowship with one another. The church is also organized with a leadership structure of elders and deacons who are responsible to shepherd, protect and lead the church.

            There were local gatherings of believers in the New Testament. Paul wrote his epistles to churches in Galatia, Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, etc. (Gal. 1:2; 1 Cor. 16:19; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2). In Revelation Jesus spoke to the churches in Ephesus, Pergamum, Smyrna, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodecia, (Rev. 2:1, 2:8, 2:12, 2:18, 3:1, 3:7, 3:14). They were groups of Christians who got together in a certain area or town.

            The church is universal as it contains every believer in Christ all over the world. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” (Ephesians 5:25), and that Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, (Eph. 5:29). Jesus told Peter that “on this rock I will build my church”, (Matthew 16:18). Paul told the Corinthians to give no offense to “the church of God” and not despise “the church of God”, (1 Corinthians 10:32; 11:22). Further examples could be given, but you get the idea. The church is identified as both a local body of believers who worships Christ as well as the total sum of all Christians everywhere who have believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

            Now we should also identify what the church is NOT, according to the Bible. The "church" is not identified as a building. The church is instead identified as people. When Paul or Peter wrote their letters to "the churches" they did not write to a church building on 123 Main Street, Corinth. There were no church buildings in the 1st Century as the Christians mostly met in other people's houses. Peter, Paul, John and James were writing to groups of people who had trusted Christ and were gathered together as a body in various local areas. This is an important distinction to note. Nowadays we think of the 3rd Baptist Church of Cityville or the 7th Presbyterian church of Townsburg. This is somewhat understandable as the "church", the body of believers in a local area, does gather together in a building which we call a "church". But we need to remember that "the church" for which Christ gave his life and devoted so much instruction and teaching in the New Testament was not a building with drywall, air conditioning and chairs, but the very people who fill those buildings. It's a bit of a paradigm shift and it's necessary as we begin to think about the purpose of the church. This way we will not think about what should be the purpose of the building, organization, or pastoral staff of the 52nd Methodist church of Francisovilletown, but rather what is the purpose of the body of believers actually gathering in those places.

            Does this make sense? Are we all on the same page? Groovy. Now that we’ve identified, (or rather I’ve identified. You, the reader, just sat there and let me do all the work. Shame on you.), let’s get back to figuring out what should be the purpose and product of the church, both universally and locally, according to God and his Word. 

What is the Point of the Church?

Purpose: noun pur·pose \ˈpər-pəs\

: the reason why something is done or used : the aim or intention of something

Product: noun prod·uct \ˈprä-(ˌ)dəkt\

: something that is the result of a process[1]

Let me ask you a question: What is the purpose of the church? Why does it exist? What is the “aim or intention”, to quote Mr. Webster, of the body of Christ? And before you answer you can’t say “to glorify God” or “reach the nations” or something churchy like that.[2] I would like for you to think about it and give me a specific answer. Also, I would like you to support your answer from the Bible, (of course). What can you point to in order to show the exact purpose of the church?

While you’re thinking about let’s get even more specific. What should be the product of the church? What should be the “result of the process” of the body of Jesus Christ? If the church were a factory, what should you see coming out of the end? If you went to the Coke building and went around to the back you would see bottles of sweet and delicious Coca-Cola[3] being loaded onto trucks for delivery. If you went to an IPhone factory you should be able to see IPhones at the end of the production line. The purpose of a Coke factory is to produce Coca-Cola. A phone factory should produce phones. So what should exit the back door of the church factory? Even more troublesome would be to ask what is the church actually producing?

Maybe you feel like you have the answer already in your mind. Maybe if you can’t resort to a Christianese answer, you’re suddenly not so sure. Keep in mind the answers you are probably thinking of, i.e. to glorify God, reach the nations for Christ, are not bad answers, but I would challenge you to provide an answer based on the sum total of the New Testament writings and provide supports for your answer. Could you do it?

The goal of these articles will be to explore the answer to the question: what should be the purpose and product of the Church? Now I can already hear you asking, (because I have enormous ears), the following questions: “Why do I need to know? This seems like a boring question that only people who like studying theology would ask.” “Why does it matter? My church is doing quite well thank you very much?” Or “Who cares? I would rather hear about how I can be a better husband[4] or how I can survive my work without going off on my boss.”

            I understand your concerns and I think these are valid questions. Why does it matter what “the purpose and the product” of the church is when I’m dealing with much more down to earth issues? Why should I, a regular Joe[5] care about something that only seems to concern pastors, preachers, and super-smart people?

            The answer is: the purpose and product of the church was and is very important to God and to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave his life for his bride, the church. God spent the entirety of the Epistles in the New Testament talking about and to the church. The apostles wrote about how the church should function, what it should look like, and what it should believe. The simple fact of the matter is that the identity, beliefs, and behaviors of the church are of utmost importance to God; therefore it should be of utmost importance to us, his children.

            Furthermore, as Christians we live and function within the church on a regular basis. Shouldn’t we know what we should be expecting each day, week, month and year? Shouldn’t we be alert and unsatisfied if the church we are a part of is not acting in accord with the designs and purposes of God? Shouldn’t we pursue God’s very best as a member of the body of Christ? We certainly want to pursue God’s best as husbands and wives, parents, employees, and children of God. We take time to study the Bible, read books, and receive counseling and discipleship to make sure we are in line with what God wants for each area of our lives. Why wouldn’t we make the same effort to ensure the very body of Christ with which we associate ourselves is walking in line with the designs of its creator?[6]

            Therefore in these articles we’ll try to walk together through the pages of the New Testament, particularly the Epistles, to determine what the purpose and product of the Church should be, according to God. My aim is not so much of a dry and boring Bible study, but an invitation for you, the reader, to discover with me through God’s living word what God wants from His Bride.

            First off, some clarification is in order. My goal is to determine what should be the purpose and product of the Church. I am not going to spend time addressing the make-up, offices, or identity of the Church. These are worthy discussions and studies to be sure, but they are separate studies altogether. Secondly, I am going to try to get down into the heart of the answer to the question about purpose and product. Therefore we’re going to have to review carefully the verses in the New Testament to make sure we are looking at those passages which actually speak to the answer we seek. There are large portions of the Epistles which cover attitudinal or behavioral aspects of the Church but do not speak directly to the purpose and product of the Church. We will not take those passages into consideration. For example, 1^st Corinthians 14 deals with the issue of tongues in the church. Paul is spending time on a very important issue that affected, and still affects, the church of God. However, this passage does not necessarily speak directly to the purpose of the Church. There are also other passages about giving, loving each other, or obedience to society’s laws, (just to name a few), which are also important behavioral issues but don’t necessarily speak to or answer our question. In the same way there are various passages about how a Christian should think about himself, the Lord, the Second Coming, etc. These are no doubt incredibly important and foundational issues, but they won’t answer the question proposed in this article. So we’ll have to be selective as we study to make sure we’re looking at the most pertinent verses and passages to answer our question. As always, it is up to you, dear reader, to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and test to see if what I have said correctly lines up with the Word of God.

            So there you go. We’re off to see the wizard…I mean, we’re off to seek out what God desires from his church. I hope we both leave this endeavor encouraged, challenged, and maybe even uncomfortable with what we find. Do you think you can handle it?[7]

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[1] Thank you, Mr. Webster

[2] This is my article so I make the rules.

[3] I am a Southerner, i.e. I love Coke.

[4] Wives would like to know how their husband can get better too.

[5] Or Joann

[6] So yeah, it’s kind of important.

[7] Do you see what I did there? I threw that in to mess with you competitive types and keep you reading. You learn how to do these things if you’re a savvy journalism major. 

Job 42:7-17, The Final Job Blog and the Final Word

Job has been humbled by God in a mighty and tremendous fashion. He is now restored to a relationship with God who loves him. He has been humbled from his arrogance and doubt against God's sovereign rule over life, death, and suffering. He has repented in dust and ashes. Now God and Job are restored in their relationship. Each is in his right place, God as the Lord and Job as the humble servant.

Now about those three friends...

Much of the book of Job is set up as a court room drama. Each party has presented their case like a trial lawyer. Job held firm to his righteousness. His friends claimed that a man's righteousness before God can be clearly seen by the good or bad state of their circumstances. Ergo, since Job was suffering, he was a clearly a dirty rotten scoundrel. If we were back in the courtroom in Job 42:7-17, we would now see Job's justified by The Judge, (God) and we would see the three friends trying to quietly slip out the back door. Thankfully, The Judge, (see what I did there?), catches them before they can make their escape. 

"After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now therefore take...and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.' So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer," (Job 42:7-9).

I wrote out quite a lengthy portion of verses here because they are quite significant. Firstly, see that God mentions "my servant Job" four times in just three verses. He also says on two occasions that Job had spoken rightly about God while the three friends had not. Do you think God is trying to make a point here? Job, despite all he had suffered, (and it was A LOT of suffering), actually had the favor and esteem of God. He was viewed as the servant of God who had spoken rightly about the Lord. Job's friends thought Job was in God's doghouse because of the suffering he was enduring, while in fact Job was viewed all along as special and worthy of God's praise. 

Helen.

Me: "Take a note here Helen". (Helen is my new secretary)

Helen: "Yes Mr. Hendley." (She's very professional). 

Me: "A person may be suffering tremendously and yet be highly esteemed in God's eyes. Suffering is not an indication of God's displeasure in a person's life. See also Joseph, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Jesus, and the apostles." 

Helen: "Yes Mr. Hendley." 

Me: "Thank you. And bring me a sausage biscuit when you get a chance." 

Helen: "Yes Mr. Hendley." 

Helen is great. She also only exists in my mind. Oh well, back to Job. Job is called the servant of God. He is also commended for speaking rightly about God in contrast to the three stooges who tried to give Job advice. Now I must confess that I struggled here to understand how Job spoke rightly about God when God just spent four chapters (38:1-42:6) putting the smackdown on Job for his bad attitude. John Piper offers some helpful insight here.

"Now God had accused Job of darkening counsel without knowledge (38:2; 42:3), so he doesn't mean that everything Job said had been right. But when it comes to the basic dispute between Job and these three friends, he was in the right. They had said that the wicked suffer and the righteous prosper. Job had said that the world proves no such thing: the wicked often prosper more than the righteous and the righteous often suffer more than the wicked. Job was right...So God humbled these three friends by showing them that the very one they condemned was in fact the better theologian even if he was not perfect." (John Piper, sermon on Job, 8/4/1985, link here). 

Here's a second big point from this passage: Job becomes a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Follow me here. Job's three friends have sinned against God. They spoke wrongly about God and his character. God could treat Job's friends as they deserve and let his anger burn against them and thus destroy them. All along the three friends have said that the sinners on earth get what they deserve. In a delicious twist of irony, God could give them what they deserve and wipe them out. Now these same friends find themselves needing the mercy of God to cover their sins and avoid judgment. They must go to a righteous man, i.e. Job, present a sacrifice, and that righteous man would intercede to God for the sins of the unrighteous sinners. 

Robert Duvall, because he's awesome.

Men and women have sinned before The Judge. We have not obeyed God's commandments, loved him as we ought, nor loved others as ourselves. God has revealed in his Word and in his creation who he is and what is good and right for men. Men and women throughout history have instead rejected God and his moral standards. The result has been death, destruction, and alienation from their Creator. People throughout history find themselves in the same place as Job's friends. God's anger burns against them. They rightly deserve punishment and judgment. People find themselves needing the mercy of God to cover their sins and avoid judgment. They must go to a righteous man, Jesus Christ, for salvation. Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to earth and lived a sinless life. This same man presented a sacrifice to God for sinners, (just like Job). Instead of presenting a burnt offering like Job, Jesus presented himself as the sacrifice. He died on a cross, suffering the punishment and judgment which was rightly due to wicked men. Jesus, like Job, became an intercessor on men's behalf, submitting his righteousness for the unrighteousness of sinners. If men come to him, like Job's three friends came to Job, they will avoid the anger of God against their own unrighteousness. Men must come to Jesus, not on the basis of their own works or efforts, but Christ's, (just as Job's friends could not come on their record, but Job's). So we see Job, some 4,000 years before Christ, as a foreshadowing of the sacrifice and intercession that Jesus would one day give. Job, a righteous man, intercedes before God for the wicked by the sacrifice of a living animal. Thus the wicked are forgiven because of the sacrifice of the intercessor. 

Pretty cool, huh? 

Me: "Helen, hold my calls. We're reaching the conclusion here." 

Finally, Job's fortunes, family, and reputation are restored. "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before," (Job 42:10, cf 11-17). Job was restored in his relationship with his family, who came to him and comforted him for the trouble he had endured. He is restored in his fortunes, having twice than he had previously. God grants him to have children for the ones he lost. He had seven sons and three daughters. Job lived a long life, seeing four generations of his children before he died, full of days. 

Here's the final application. God's people, in the end, will be vindicated and blessed. In the end, Job is vindicated as a righteous man and lives a full and blessed life. In the end the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, will have the kingdom established on earth and Christ will rule as their king over the nations. In the end, Christians who are today vilified and hated on earth will be glorified and blessed in heaven. God's people may go through indescribable suffering, persecution, and murder on earth, but ultimately they are exalted and restored in heaven.  

Well, God showed up, (pt 4)

Have you ever been speaking with a friend and you're trying to convince them of something or share how they hurt your feelings and they say, "Fine", or "Whatever"?

When someone says that to you do you really feel like things are fine? When someone says "whatever" do you feel like you've gotten your point across? No, not really. Today Job is going to tell God "whatever," and it's not going to go over well with the Almighty.

In the last section God exposed to Job that there are things in the universe Job can neither control or understand, that there is mystery and power in the universe. Now God is going to stop and allow Job a chance to respond. As always, please read along in your Bible, Job 40-41.

"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it," (Job 40:1-2). God is giving Job a chance to say, "You're right, I was wrong." He is giving him an opportunity to admit his limited knowledge and understanding. How does Job respond?

"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will not proceed further," (Job 40:4-5). At first glance this looks good, right? Job says he is small and he's not going to talk anymore. But do you know what's lacking? "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I repent of thinking you don't know how to run the universe. I repent of saying you're unfair." Here's what Matthew Henry has to say about Job's attitude. "Job was greatly humbled for what God had already said, but not sufficiently; he was brought low, but not low enough; and therefore God here proceeds..."

So Job gives the Old World equivalent of "whatever" to God. The problem is God desires that the relationship between he and Job be restored and "whatever" isn't going to cut it. It's the same way if you're arguing with your husband, wife, child, or friend. You know that things are not okay if they say, "fine." You want things to be restored. You want things to be okay. God loves Job and wants their relationship to be fixed. Since Job doesn't acknowledge his wrong, God continues.

Behemoth? Maybe...who knows?

The conversation in Job 40-41 centers around two creatures, Behemoth and Leviathan, the greatest creatures of the land and sea. Now if you read any other commentators about Job you will get a long diatribe about whether these creatures were real or mythological and what exactly they were, (a dinosaur, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, elephant = Behemoth and crocodile, shark, dinosaur of the sea, dragon = Leviathan). I'm not interested in the debate. For our purposes I'm assuming these were real creatures that actually existed in Job's day, (whatever they were). They were the greatest creatures of the land and sea.

So why does God bring these incredible creatures up in his conversation with Job. The key verses are 40:7-14 and 41:10-11. The rest of the verses describe Behemoth and Leviathan. Let's look at the first group of verses. "Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?" (40:8). This is exactly what Job had done. He had condemned God, stating that he was unjust in his running of the universe. He had concluded God had erred in how he operated in the world. He had declared he was a righteous man and didn't deserve to suffer. God had messed up. Then Job had challenged God, a la Matlock, to explain himself. God continues in his response.

"Do you have an arm as powerful as God's and can you thunder with a voice like his? Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low...Hide them all in the dust together...then will I also acknowledge to  you that your own right hand can save you," (40:9-14, selected). Job had challenged God. Now God challenges Job. Can Job humble the proud? Can he destroy the evil? Can he stand with the same power and might as God? Can he shaken the heavens and the earth and bring them to nothing by the voice of his mouth? The point God is making is this: you have no business challenging how I run the universe when you can't challenge me in strength comparable to mine.

Leviathan? I don't know, but this movie kept me out of the water until I was 14.

God goes a step further in exposing Job's impotence when discussing the Behemoth and Leviathan. His point in describing these creatures in such detail is connected to Job's limited power. Behemoth and Leviathan are the greatest creatures of the land and sea. Job cannot challenge or stand against created beings of the earth and sea who live and die just like Job. How, therefore, can Job challenge the ways of a God who is eternal and almighty? What right has Job to tell God how to run the universe? If Job can't even stand against a Brontosaurus or Jaws, (I'm guessing here), then how can he stand against and accuse God of failing to act with justice.

Job is just a created being. He is small, finite, and will one day die. He is weak and limited. God is infinite and limitless. He has no beginning and no end. God is eternal and immortal. God is Almighty and Sovereign. Job stands before THE LORD as one limited in knowledge and power and he is challenged to bend his knee to him. Job cannot control or manipulate God or his designs anymore than Roy Scheider is going to hurt Jaws with that tiny stick. In other words Job is going to need a bigger boat. "Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is MINE," (41:10-11, emphasis added).

Job had challenged God, stating that he didn't run the universe fairly. He had professed his righteousness and stated he should not be suffering because of his righteous character, (and God never refutes Job's righteousness by the way). Job told God that he had messed up. Job wanted to stand before God and get his "why" questions answered. He wanted God, the holy creator, to come before him like a common litigant and give him answers on why he had suffered, why God ran the universe like he did, and why he (supposedly) messed up in Job's life. Job wanted answers. God responded by asking Job 70 questions exposing Job's limited knowledge and power. He challenged Job's ability to even stand before lesser beings, much less the God of the universe. In the end, God showed Job there was a limit to his knowledge, understanding, power, and authority. In the end, Job was shown he would not get the answers he sought. In the end, Job would have to submit to the only one who did have the knowledge and power to run the universe. In the end, Job would have to trust the Lord.

Now how will Job respond?
"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted...I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes," (Job 42:1-6, selected). Job, instead of just being silent, admits his folly. He admits the purposes and plans of God are too high for him to understand. He admits his knowledge is limited. He acknowledges the sovereign control, purposes, and wisdom of God which is higher than a man's comprehension. He turns from demanding God reveal and explain himself and humbles himself in repentance and nothingness. The relationship is now restored between Creator and the created one. Job kneels in humility not from fear or show of force, (which God could have done), but from the exposure of his own limited knowledge, understanding and power.

Final thoughts and blogs on Job coming up.

Well, God showed up, (pt 3), Job 38:39-39-30

Mystery and Power. What are they? A mystery is something that is hidden, unknown, or can not be understood. Power is the force which makes things happen, move, or work. Mystery and Power are the themes of God's speeches to Job. God is reminding Job of the wonder and force within the universe and will reveal to him how the mystery and power in the created world around him relates to his questions about good, evil, suffering, injustice and ultimately, God.

Remember where Job is, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. He lost everything he owned. He lost his servants. He lost his children. He lost his stature within the community around him. They considered him a wicked and evil man because they thought only the wicked suffered. So he has spent the entirety of this book trying to find meaning in his suffering in light of the presence of God. He asked God where He was in the midst of Job's suffering. He asked why God allowed the righteous to suffer and the evil to thrive. He couldn't understand how these things had happened in his life when he had been a faithful and God fearing man. He finally concluded that God was unjust, having somehow erred in the way he had treated Job. He wanted God to give him an answer. Well, in chapters 38-41, God shows up and answers Job quite a bit.

The classic Scooby Doo walking scene.

In the last chapter God confronted Job about the things in the natural world that he could not comprehend or control. He asked Job several questions about the sea, the stars, the created earth, the sun, the snow, the light, and the rain. Through these subjects he showed Job that there were things in the created world Job could neither comprehend or control. There was mystery and power within the created world. Now God turns to the animal kingdom in Job 38:39-39:30. Please read along in your Bible.

Job 38:39-41 - "Job, do you have the power to feed the lions and birds?"
God asks Job if he has the power to provide for the creatures on earth. Does Job supply their needs? Can Job make sure they are fed, nourished, and cared for? The answer, of course, is no. Job is a man of limited power and control. However, God is there and he cares for, provides, and feeds the beasts of the earth by his infinite power and understanding.

Job 39:1-4 - "Job, do you understand how and when the goats and deer give birth?" 
Okay, this seems like a weird, gross, or irrelevant question. I mean, seriously, who cares how and when the deer give birth? However, God is showing Job there is mystery in the created world. Animals are made to create, bear, and nurture their young. All of this happens apart from man's influence and control. This too is evidence of something outside of Job's comprehension or power, yet God understands and cares for these creatures by his wisdom and power.

Job 39:5-12 - "Job, can you control the wild donkey and the ox?" 
The donkey and the ox both live independently of men and rail against man's control. They live alone in mountains and the salt lands, free from men. They resist men's stables and fences. God is reminding Job that there are animals in the created world who cannot be controlled and ruled by Job or any other man. These animals do not serve men, but live according to their own purposes. Even so, God reigns over these animals as their creator, ruler and caretaker.

Yep, there's an ostrich.

Job 39:13-25 - "Job, can you comprehend or control the ostrich or the war horse?" 
(I must confess, I know little about ostriches except that they don't fly and they stick their heads in the ground. I've never read about how they treat their eggs. However, let us just assume that God knew what he was talking about and Job would know what God was talking about? Okay? Good.)

God says a ostrich is a strange bird. It will lay its eggs on the ground and then leave them unprotected. Why, (asks God), would an animal act this way? Can Job understand how a mother bird would forsake its young to destruction? Job doesn't have the capacity to understand this creature. It is mysterious and confusing. Yet God is not confused. God is not frustrated by the strange actions of this bird he created.
Furthermore, can Job control or understand the war horse? Can he understand how this animal is excited by battle and destruction? "He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword," (22). Can Job control the fearful strength of such a powerful creature? "With fearfulness and rage he swallows the ground;" (24).
Yet again there are animals in the created world Job cannot comprehend or control. Only God can understand and control such confounding and powerful creatures.

Because Batman flies...like the birds in God's illustration.

Job 39:26-30 - "Job, how to birds fly?"
Finally, God directs Job's attention to the birds of the air and their powers of flight. Can Job comprehend how the hawk and the eagle soar above the earth? Does he know how they glide above the air and make their home up in the mountains? Does Job command the eagle to fly where he wills it? How can a bird fly in the air and reject the laws of gravity? Once again there are creatures Job cannot comprehend or control.

Comprehension and control. Mystery and power. Throughout this chapter and God's discussion of these creatures, these themes have resonated over and over and over again. God has been beating a dead horse, (not literally), in his discussion of the animals of the earth. Job is a being of limited control and understanding. There are things in the animal kingdom which Job cannot control or fathom by his limited knowledge and resources.

Once again, the problem is not Job's lack of knowledge. Job was aware of these things. The problem is Job's understanding the ramifications of the knowledge he already had. God reminded Job there were creatures he could not understand or control. God also showed the mystery and power of the created world in chapter 38. So what's the point? God was trying to get Job to see that just as there are animals you cannot comprehend or control, so there are things in your life you cannot comprehend or control. There is mystery and power within the world you live in. There is going to be suffering, wickedness, confusion, injustice and weirdness to your life. Yes, bad thing will happen and you will not be able to understand them or control them, (just as bad things happened to Scooby-Doo that he struggled to understand and control).

Now, if we just stopped there we would all need to go home and either drink ourselves into a stupor, immerse ourselves in mindless pleasure, or take a lot of drugs to ease our pain. How else could we live in a world where God acknowledges there is chaos and confusion and men have no control over what happens in their lives? If that is the case, men should eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow they die. If this is all God had said then men should live as they please, do what they please, and disregard any moral or spiritual authority because there is no purpose or hope for life.

However...this is not all God had to say. God raised several examples in the animal kingdom which exposed Job's lack of understanding or lack of power. Yet for every example God was neither confused or out of control. Does God have the power to provide for the lions and the beasts of the field? Yes. Does God understand how animals create babies and nurture their babies to adulthood? Yes. Can God control the wild donkey, ox, or any other created animal which exists? Yes. Does God understand ostriches and why they act so weirdly? Yes. Does God understand the war horse and can he rule over the wildest of animals? Yes. Is there any creature on the earth outside of God's control or comprehension? No. God rules with total wisdom, mercy, and power. He is God. There is nothing outside of his power or understanding.

Therefore, Job, (and consequently you and I), do not have to go home and drown ourselves in tequila and Scooby-snacks. We do not have to submit to sorrow, anxiety, or despair. There is a God who is there. There is a God who rules in control of the universe. There is a God who is in control, who is never confused, and who is never frustrated. God reigns over the universe with wisdom, power, and love. We may not have the capacity to grasp what he is doing. We may not like what is happening in our world, but we can know and rest in a sovereign Lord who runs the universe with complete wisdom, mercy, and power. Nothing is mysterious to God. Nothing is outside of his power. This is the message to Job and to you and I.

To be continued...