Wednesday: More than Thorns and Thistles
As we all know, and some know too well, life is hard. Right at Eden, after the Fall, we were given some hints of how hard it would be, when the Lord let our first parents know what some of the results of their transgression would be (see Gen. 3:16–24). These were just hints though.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
After all, if the only challenges we faced in life were “thorns and thistles,” human existence would be radically different from how it is today.
We look around, and what do we see but suffering, sickness, poverty, war, crime, depression, pollution, and injustice? The historian of antiquity Herodotus wrote about a culture in which people mourned—yes, mourned when a baby was born, because they knew the inevitable sorrow and suffering that the child would face were he or she to reach adulthood. Seems morbid, but who can refute the logic?
In the book of Job, though, there is a message for us about the human condition. As we saw, Job could be deemed a symbol of all humanity, in that all of us suffer—often in ways that just don’t seem fair, that don’t seem appropriate to whatever sins we have all inevitably committed. It wasn’t fair to Job, and it’s not fair to us.
And yet, in all of this what the book of Job can say to us is that God is there, God knows, and God promises that it doesn’t all have to be for nothing.
Secular writers, atheistic writers, struggle to come to terms with the meaninglessness of a life that ends forever in death. They struggle and struggle for answers and yet come up with nothing, because this life, in and of itself, offers nothing. There’s an atheistic philosophy called “nihilism,” from a Latin word, nihil, that means “nothing.” Nihilism teaches that our world and our lives in the world mean nothing.
The book of Job, though, points us to a transcendent reality beyond the nihil that our mortal lives threaten us with. It points us to God and to a realm of existence from which we can draw hope. It tells us that all that happens to us does not happen in a vacuum but that there is a God who knows all about what is happening, a God who promises to make it all right one day. Whatever grand questions the book of Job leaves unanswered, it doesn’t leave us with nothing in our hands but the ashes of our lives (see Gen. 3:19, Job 2:8). Instead, it leaves us with the hope of hopes, the hope of something beyond what’s presented to our immediate senses.
| What Bible texts explicitly say that we have a great hope that transcends anything this world offers? (See, for instance, Heb. 11:10, Rev. 21:2.) |
(22)
We are of value in the sight of God however-much the devil tries to shun off that truth from our minds by the bites on the "heel" of God's children. Remembering that we have a friend in Jesus who will all our sorrows bear, He knows all our weakness, only what we have to do is to take to Him every thing in prayer for He said and promised to answer. He loves us and indeed He will save us. That's the hope I have. AMEN.
Glory be to the Lord that there is hope in the future apart from the life we have today. This hope should edge us on come what may because the sufferings and challenges of today will but come to an end one day. God is still in control. This is my hope.
I'm encouraged by Isaiah 44, especially the last part of verse 21, where God says,'...thou shall not be forgotten of Me.' Its God's promise to me that no matter what my eyes see, ears hear, the happiness or grief experienced, success or failures (I bring to Him for strength to overcome), what is said or done, I belong to Him and am never ignored, or forgotten.
We are a fallen race and our adversary the devil is a fallen being. But in our struggle with him we have the promise of restoration in everything that we lost and this restoration begins right here on earth. As we grow in faith and our eyes begin to see the length and depth to which the devil has laid his snares over the centuries to entrap souls and prevent them from going to heaven, and again as we consider the price that was paid for our redemption we realize it is not all thorns and thistles. There is a glorious ending and the more victorious we become the more of heaven we taste right in this world. Our walk is worth every effort.
This song came to my mind -Jesus is coming are you ready, if he comes tonight would you be alright my Jesus is coming back for you...praise God Jesus is coming again and He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. He that overcome shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son Revelation 21 :4 & 7. Praise God my redeemer lives. This is my hope. God bless
Yes, we have trials, but in trials we develop faith, and by this means, a heavenly character. If we are diligent, we can grow a bountiful harvest in the place of the thorns and thistles which come up naturally without any effort(what an object lesson!). Who hasn't driven past miles of orchards, vineyards and fields covered with beautiful produce? We learn to persevere, and through constant, diligent effort, are rewarded with blessings. On the other hand, the wise man observed the field of the slothful man, void of understanding, which which had become overgrown with thorns, nettles, and the stone wall broken down and needing repair, all while the man slept the day away(Prov 24:30-34).
The need to overcome in this life is a blessing, and Jesus has promised great blessing “to him that overcomes...” just as He overcame every temptation and trial of His earthly life as our Example. He has shared our lot and died our death so that we may live His life, which is everlasting. Salvation must take place in this life, and requires overcoming by faith and diligent effort. “By the sweat of thy brow” is the condition of the promise “thou shalt eat”.
Does it matter what those without faith think or believe? We have a Blessed Hope to know, believe and share, which is revealed in the many exceeding great and precious promises of God. We have a Savior who has demonstrated how to find perfect peace in the worst of tempests Satan can bring. Can we believe it and receive that perfect peace for our self? Isn't it promised(Isa 26:3)? Notice the condition?
My everlasting hope rest in Nahum 1:9. What do ye imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. Glory to God for such an amazing promise.
indeed our great hope is God, just by realizing that there is God, it is enough to give us all the energy we deserve in all the life's pains we go through, in this cursed world we shall always be in pains but we should NEVER abandon God and seek relief somewhere, our hope and trust should always be in God alone, the rock of our hope, our Deliverer, our Comforter, our ever loving Father, our Counselor, to Him be all the praises
Many nonbelievers wonder at us, who believe in miracles and the fact that some loving being from another world shall come down and deliver us from this distructful world. What makes it so believable? Well isn't it amazing how accurate Scripture is on all that it claims? From time lines, to events, to the uprising of nations, to the common sense of the law, even to the accuracy of the last day events. If people choose to not believe it is because they don't want it to be true, just like they would rather die then to be in heaven once this is all over with. It would be way to uncomfortable for them to be there. Just like how uncomfortable it is now when a true believer walks into a room where they are all in.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness. What do I have to fear? Nothing because things are possible through Him that strengthens me and you. My prayer is for us never to let go of His garment
When I read in job 19:26,job says, when my skin is destroyed....I will see him for myself, yes, I will see him with my own eyes.This words insipires me soo much, words spoken out of grt faith and hope,i no more fear death like job and I believe I will too see my God with my own eyes. May God help me to b a God fearing and shuns evil like job.