"Am I Steadfast?"

"How Job was Steadfast"

We see in Job chapter two and verse three that the Lord says something to Satan. Let's read this passage together,

Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Let's consider what the Lord has just said to Satan for a moment! The Lord asked Satan a question and the question was whether he had considered His servant, Job.

The phrase "hast thou considered" in the Hebrew is "soom labe ale" which means "consider(soom) the heart(labe) closely(ale)". So the Lord is asking based on the literal Hebrew "Have you closely considered the heart of my servant (bondman) Job, to find out that there is no other like him on the earth"! Satan, have you searched his very heart to see how steadfast he is in his faith and trust in the one true God?

Then in the same verse the Lord says that Job was perfect; meaning undefiled and upright in the Hebrew. Next the Lord said that Job feared God and escheweth evil; meaning to move away from or rebel bad or evil in the Hebrew. Then the Lord says to Satan," and still he holds fast (maintains) his integrity(his innocence), although you move me against(provoke me against) him to destroy him for no reason."

What was it that held Job firm in his innocence and kept the circumstances from overcoming and defiling his integrity?

Let's look back to the beginning of Jobs troubles because that is usually when we first begin to get off track and make the mistakes that lead us down a road of regret and drawing away from our innocence. Away from the purity of God that keeps us strong when Satan's seduction comes to draw us away. Let's read a passage from Job in chapter one following the account of the attack by Satan on Jobs life.

Job had just been told that his grown children were all dead; his camels were taken; his sheep and servants were burnt up by fire from heaven; his ox and asses were taken and on top of all of that all of the servants that were caring for his animals were all killed except for the ones delivering the awful news to Job!

Let's look at Jobs response to this news in verse twenty of chapter one,

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

He did what? He tore his clothes as was custom when someone was mourning or grieving as well as shaving the head! He fell down on the ground and worshipped! This is the first thing he did!

I have to tell you right now, "That is not the first thing I could think of doing right after hearing this news! My first thought might be to go after whoever was the cause of this terrible loss!"

I mean, we get mad when someone just cuts us off at the light or honks at me when the light changes! How could I possibly get down on the ground at a time like this to worship?

This is the first reason Job remained steadfast in his faith! His faith in God was real before the trials began! His belief in God was by faith and it was this faith that gave us the evidence of Jobs hope in Christ! A hope that was so strong that he didn't question God but rather worshipped Him! Do I have a real faith in God right now? Am I sure of my hope in God before the trials come? I need to settle this now if I am to remain steadfast! Don't I?

The second reason Job remains steadfast is found in the next verse when we hear Job as he begins to worship,

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Wow! Again I am just shocked at Jobs attitude about the losses he has experienced!

He says he came physically without anything and will return with nothing. He then declares that all that he had was given by the LORD! Even his children that he had given sacrifices for each morning to God! Even his servants who cared for his many animals and possessions! Even the sheep, ox and camels that were used for many purposes to operate the grand estate that Job was blessed with!

All of this had been given to Job by the LORD and Job had come to realize this long before this day had come! The reason I know this is because of Jobs first response.

Our first response in time of trouble is our evidence of the things unseen; that is the faith or lack of faith in our hearts!

Have we given serious thought about our faith today? How will you and I hold up in a sudden moment of trouble? Are we children of God who will maintain our integrity?

Then Job said something so basic yet so enlightening that we can apply to our lives and learn from. He said that the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!

LORD in this passage comes from the Hebrew word ye-ho-vaw' meaning (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish name of God:- Jehovah, the Lord.

Job had been blessing the name of the LORD for many years before this tragic day in his life and it had not only prepared him for this day of suffering but it had also prepared him to remain steadfast in his TRUST in the LORD God of all creation who has the power to give to us and to take away!

There aren't many cases when something like this is recorded to have happened. I ask myself, "If it does happen, will I remain steadfast in my faith and trust in the LORD of all creation?" " Will I be strong and maintain a right attitude that glorifies the LORD or am I going to react to whatever comes my way and allow the troubles of this world to dictate my choices in life?" "Are troubled times going to take me away from God or am I going to take the troubled times in my life to God and trust them in His hands? "

I know it isn't easy to imagine this now, but if you will prepare your heart by accepting Gods will for your life by faith, your trust in God will remain steadfast when the rough times come.
Remaining steadfast starts in the heart! Let's search there first before we look for strength in others! Let's go where we will find the Spirit of God; in worship to our LORD; our Jehovah!

Life is full of ups and downs; be ready!

Let's pray,
Our LORD, I come to you as your child today; your child that came out of my mothers womb naked with absolutely nothing! I will return to you again one day with nothing as well! You have given to me and you have also taken away from me through the past years of my life; blessed be your name LORD! Blessed be your name! Bless the hearts of all who can pray this prayer today and continue work in the hearts of those who cannot pray this way. Thank you for our example in Job of a man who remained steadfast in his faith and trust! By the power of your spirit in me I too will remain steadfast in my faith and trust in you LORD. Amen.