Amen!! What truth! What a chapter! I have come forth prepared for battle, to meet the conflict through the power of an indwelling Savior!!
As I read this morning, I was saddened that so very many fail to understand the simple truths put forth in Scripture regarding the power of grace to transform the life. And, my mind was led to the current Sabbath School lesson where it is revealed the teachers in our day are no different from the teachers Christ had to contend with in His day. The lessons in the Book of Job are not comprehended. The sufferings of Job are not seen to be for the glory of God, even though throughout the Bible we are told that in our suffering, the love of God, His glory is revealed.
In today's reading Pastor Sean has highlighted the truth that the world needs to know, God is in absolute control in this world. Bad things do happen to "good" people. But, there is a reason for it. Seventh-day Adventists have been given the answer that so many seek. Yet, when given opportunity to communicate it to the church and the world in the study of Job's great trial, we miss the mark so very much.
Here is the truth:
"If a man abide not in Me," said Christ, "he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
"And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth [pruneth] it, that it may bring forth more fruit." From the chosen twelve who had followed Jesus, one as a withered branch was about to be taken away; the rest were to pass under the pruning knife of bitter trial. Jesus with solemn tenderness explained the purpose of the husbandman. The pruning will cause pain, but it is the Father who applies the knife. He works with no wanton hand or indifferent heart. There are branches trailing upon the ground; these must be cut loose from the earthly supports to which their tendrils are fastening. They are to reach heavenward, and find their support in God. The excessive foliage that draws away the life current from the fruit must be pruned off. The overgrowth must be cut out, to give room for the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The husbandman prunes away the harmful growth, that the fruit may be richer and more abundant.
"Herein is My Father glorified," said Jesus, "that ye bear much fruit." God desires to manifest through you the holiness, the benevolence, the compassion, of His own character. Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit. He tells them to abide in Him. "If ye abide in Me," He says, "and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers. This is the same vital union that is represented by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The words of Christ are spirit and life. Receiving them, you receive the life of the Vine. You live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4. The life of Christ in you produces the same fruits as in Him. Living in Christ, adhering to Christ, supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, you bear fruit after the similitude of Christ.
If one does not believe this, then how can he understand why God allowed Job to suffer, he cannot. If one does not believe Job was perfect in moral character then he has not spiritual discernment and will not see Job's fall from grace. But, it is God's desire that we understand our continual need of Jesus in order to resist the smallest temptation. And, that we also understand that when we are connected with Christ by having surrendered all to Him, He then lives in us through the Spirit. Then, having the Spirit in the heart, it is cleansed from all sin and the repentant sinner manifests every one of the fruits of His Spirit, not one is missing.
True conversion is the greatest miracle God can perform. But, He cannot work this miracle by Himself. It is impossible. For He leaves man with free will. It requires man's cooperation. Man must learn of Him who gave all that we might live. We must drink His blood and eat His flesh if we are to be transformed into His image (character). A simple truth, but one that needs be learned.