"When you leave here today, you're going to have the same eye color. You'll be wearing the same clothes. You're not going to be perfect. You're not going to stop facing challenges. But you're making a fresh start...and God's going to be with you."
Every weekend my pastor says something like this at the end of each church service. He says it to people who have just decided to believe in God and ask Him to lead their lives. I'm really glad he does--because there are a lot of people who have what I'm calling today "easy street faith." In today's passage, Job's long-winded friend Elihu (yes, the same guy we heard from yesterday) seems to hold that philosophy. Here's what he said to Job about people who follow God:
If they obey and serve him,
they'll have a good, long life on easy street.
Hmm...interesting theory. Too bad it's wrong. I'd love to say that since I've believed in God and served Him, that I've had a perfect life. Don't get me wrong--my life is better because God's in it, but it's far from perfect.
If we look at Jesus Himself (perfect God in flesh), it's clear that loving God and following what He says doesn't lead to easy street. It lead Jesus to Calvary, a cross and a painful death (though not to cut the story short, it also lead Him to resurrection and eternity in Heaven!).
For all of us that are simply human, we make mistakes that have consequences. Even when we don't necessarily mess up, the people around us might--and that could have a major impact on us. On top of that, we're human beings--we eventually die (and so do people we love). We feel pain and sickness and heartache.
I know that last paragraph could sound like a major downer--it's not meant to! I'm trying to actually take pressure off anyone who feels that because they love God, their lives should be picture-perfect...and they're not.
I'm also trying to encourage anyone who's mad at God because of their not-so-easy street lives. God's not to blame for that. And here's the really cool thing--in the midst of whatever you and I face (good and bad), God's there. He wants to listen and help. Mostly, He will always love.
Tomorrow: Job 38-39
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