“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?” Job 4:7
When something bad happens to a person, many believe that the person must have done something wrong. Often it is that he must have made a bad choice that brought on the bad situation in his life. According to the world, a person is in control of his whole life, bad things should never occur to a good person.
Once something happens bad to a person, many begin to question the why of what happened. They start searching for answers wanting to solve the problem. In this process the wrong answer is often believed.
Job had done nothing wrong and was notated as living an upright and innocent life, yet, he lost everything. One of his friends, Eliphaz, came by with some counsel on what had occurred. Part of his suggestion was that Job was guilty of some sin, because no one innocent or upright has ever been destroyed like this.
While Eliphaz’s thoughts seem logical, they fall short of understanding God’s ways. There have been many people who were innocent and upright who have perished. No, they did not perish for eternity, but they perished here on this earth. They were killed or became sick to the point of death or something else bad occurred.
Take a look at Jesus, perfect and holy, yet He suffered and died. In a sense He was destroyed. His body on this earth was killed. However, despite the killing, because He was perfect and holy, He rose again and was not destroyed eternally.
The believer in Jesus is also made holy and righteous before God through the power of Jesus. He may suffer and die here on this earth, but it is only a temporary death, he will be raised again to life.
As a believer, do not be quick to judge yourself or others for problems occurring in life. Allow God to examine you and point out any sins you may have that may have brought on the suffering, but also accept that it may not be caused by your sins.
God does allow suffering and pain in the lives of His children. Don’t give the false counsel of blaming personal sin for personal problems always. Sometimes it is God working in your life as He was in Job’s life.
You cannot always see behind the scenes as to what God is doing or why He allows something. However, you can trust Him fully.
I pray today that you will trust God’s work in your life; that God will reveal any sin in your life; that God will strengthen you during sufferings; and that God will make you more like Jesus.
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