Written by Bridge Church Elder Bill Erickson
During these days of the COVID-19 virus we are bombarded daily with body counts. On nearly every newscast we hear how many new cases of the virus there are and how many have died as a result. Perhaps it has touched your family in some way. It reminds me of another time in our history when we heard similar reports. It was during the height of the Viet Nam war. As we sat at our dinner tables and listened to the nightly news, the media anchors would report the grim statistics. Again, maybe your family was impacted in some way. I was there and I do remember. So, how do we respond?
The first question of the Heidelberg Catechism asks, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?”
Answer:
“That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me, that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yes, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready henceforth to live for him.”
In his book, Body & Soul, author M. Craig Barnes says this:
“When the catechism speaks of comfort, it’s not referring to a sentimental notion that tranquilizes us from life’s anxieties. It’s not telling us ‘There, there now Dear, everything will be okay!’
Rather, the Latin root of the word comfort is confortare and implies a strengthening.
The comfort the gospel offers is more than consolation or empathy for our worries. It is redemptive. It restores us to our position as humans made in the image of God, crowned with dignity and honor.
In other words, the catechism asks, ‘What can get us back on our feet as people who are no longer threatened by the next looming loss, the emptiness that re-emerges when we’re tired and undefended?’ Simply put, ‘What can make us unafraid?’”
One person who understood what his only comfort in life and death was, was Job. In the opening chapter of the book of Job we learn that he was a very wealthy man and a man of complete integrity. He owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 teams of oxen and 500 female donkeys. He was the richest man in the entire area. He had a wife and 10 children along with many servants.
Behind the scenes is God’s conversation with Satan.
“Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” (v.8)
Satan replies, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But, reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” (v.9-11)
“All right, you may test him”, the Lord said to Satan.
You know the rest of the story. During one of the many family feasts of his children, messengers came, one after the other, to report that they had been raided and all the animals were taken, all the farmhands were killed. Finally, the last messenger comes to report that a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed and all of Job’s children were killed!
Can you imagine the devastation? The heartache? The anguish?
The scriptures tell us that Job stood up and tore his robe in grief, shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”
The last verse of chapter 1 says, “In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.”
Job did not see any of this coming! He did not know about the conversation between God and Satan. He did not know that God had given Satan permission to test him. Satan’s blood must have been boiling when Job did not turn against God. Job did not sin by blaming God.
So ends round one. Chapter 2 opens with members of the heavenly court coming to present themselves to the Lord and Satan shows up with them. God says again, “Have you noticed my servant Job?” He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless – a man of complete integrity. He has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” (v.3)
Satan wants to push it further. “…Take away a man’s health and he will surely curse you to your face!”
Alright, the Lord says, but spare his life. (v.6)
Satan struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery and sat among the ashes! What a pitiful sight! When his wife challenged his integrity and told him to curse God and die, he responded, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (v. 10)
(Incidentally, lest we be too hard on Mrs. Job, remember that she lost everything as well! She was a grieving mom.)
So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Chuck Swindoll in one of his messages said this:
“Even though Job didn’t see the disaster coming, still he was ready. You see, not being able to see something coming is a matter of the mind. Being ready for something coming is a matter of the heart.”
Where are you today? During these days or any days, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But, we can be ready. What is your only comfort in life and in death? It’s a personal question that we all must answer.
Bill Erickson
