Having Vision In Darkness – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, January 08, 2018
Chapters: Job 17-19
Message: Having Vision In Darkness

Hello My Friend,

Hope; A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it. We all have hope, or we want to have hope that everything does work together for good. Hope is where vision comes in, if we can see it, and by faith, feel it, than we will find hope in the darkest of times, after all, without vision we perish. Affliction tends to block our vision, the more it prolongs the less we see hope of it ending. The one thing we need to realize when our vision starts getting blocked is that it is all under the influence of the devil, he wants our hope to darken, because if we see no hope then we see no need for God. One thing is sure, we find vision when we find God. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18.

“but he that keepeth the law,” Interesting words here, if we not only read God’s Word, but let it guide us we find hope, and when we find hope we start to see things working together for good, and if we can see things working our for good, then we can find happiness while being afflicted. People do not need a Bible to have hope in God, in fact, there are a lot of people living moral lives hopes it will get them to heaven. Of course, they do need the Bible, or someone who knows the Bible, to show them that the only way to heaven is Jesus, but that first comes by hearing what God has to say to us. Those who do not know the Word of God have the tendency to make judgments of people by their works, if they are living righteously then nothing bad happens, so if something bad happens they must be doing something bad. This is what Job was dealing with, he saw no purpose for what he was going through, and was losing hope that he would get any better, all he could see at this point was death.

“Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.” – Job 17:7-12,15-16.

“who shall see it?” It is easy to lose hope when it seems like we have no relief from the pain no matter which way we turn. That is when we need to look to Jesus, who is our light, and will bring us out of the darkest days. Never forget, if we have received Christ as our Saviour we will see an end to all of our suffering one day. It often takes unexplained suffering for us to be reminded of God’s promises, but that can be hard when people think they know God better than you do. Frustrated by Job, Bildad speaks again.

“Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak. Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight? He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” – Job 18:1-5,21.

“and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” People make the false assumption that because you are suffering you must be doing something wrong or are not saved. When God promised to give us salvation He also promised that He would never leave nor forsake us, but He did not promise that every day would be pain free. Dealing with sickness, pain, or death does not mean we do not know God or He is punishing us for some wrong we have done, once we are saved, we are forgiven, and nothing can change that. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” – I Peter 3:15-17.

“and be ready always to give an answer to every man” We may not know all the answers, but we do know who we are, and we do know who God is. And by the way, we do have a right to defend ourselves, and that does not mean we are guilty. Job respond, even shouting out this time. “Then Job answered and said, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me. And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.” – Job 19:1-4.

“mine error remaineth with myself.” When we have no vision we start to dwell on things, things we could have done, should have done, should not have done. The biggest thing that keeps you from seeing hope is you. Let me tell you, God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves also, and if we have anything that we hold on to we need to let it go or else we are not seeing that we truly are forgiven. Job starts to think that he is all alone, that everyone us against him. “His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?” – Job 19:12-17,21-22.

“He hath put my brethren far from me,” Dealing with prosecution, sickness, pain, or death does not mean we do not know God or that He is punishing us for some wrong we have done, it merely means we have strong faith in Him. Of course, we sin, and need to confess our sins daily because, quite frankly, our minds and mouths cause more trouble than our hands do, but God knows who are His, and Job realizes this after his pity party, that was what he has been doing all along. “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” – Job 19:23-26.

“Oh that my words were now written!” Oh, if Job only knew that his words were written down in the greatest book ever. Perhaps he wrote his testimony so that others who live a godly life will see that Satan is the true deterrent of all hope as we know it. Job knew who his Redeemer is, and that He would defend him. The greatest vision we can ever have is the one in which we will stand with Him, for eternity. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” – John 14:1-4. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Magnified: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” – Job 19:25.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me, I know I am not saved by anything that I do of my own, but by my faith and trust in what He did for me. Because I am redeemed I know that You are always with me, but sometimes I feel like You are no where to be found and I am fighting these battles all alone. I lose sight of Your presence, my vision begins to perish, and I catch myself trying to handle my troubles on my own instead of looking to You for help. Lord, Shine Your light upon me, that I might see past my troubles and what You have waiting for me on the other side, as I do my part, by faith, I know You will do Your part, and I will see that everything will work together for good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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