![]() It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”Ĭomplete and utter devastation. While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” ![]() “One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. If you live long enough, you will find yourself faced with unexpected trials, devastating losses, and more. Life on this earth is full of unhappy realities. The Bible is full of stories of faithful people who find themselves in situations none of us would ever want to find ourselves in. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59, 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. “ And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.” Matthew 14:6-11ģ. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. “ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Genesis 4:8Ģ. Not every faithful believer’s life has a happy ending.ġ. I want to believe that my faith is strong, that should this life present me with a choice between serving God or facing death that I would choose God. ![]() Like the faithful men and women of the reformation, many of whom died terrible, painful deaths, I want to have that kind of unwavering faith. I’ve often wondered if my faith was that strong. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15 His faith was based on the fact that despite what happened, God was still God and worthy of worship. His faith wasn’t based on how many blessings God granted him. When I think of Job, I think about a faithful man who trusted God in darkest hours of his life. I know time heals, but the heart never forgets. ![]() I mean, yes, I’m sure having another child would help heal the hurt, but my heart would still yearn for the child no longer sitting at the table. Sounds like a happy ending, right?īut what about the pain and sorrow he endured? What about the children he lost? I can’t imagine another child replacing the one I lost. The book of Job tells the story of a man who lost everything, but in the end he is blessed with twice as much as before. We all love stories that have a “happily ever after” ending. But real life doesn’t always work out that way, does it? For most of us, it’s only a matter of time before our happy days are met with a crisis or tragedy or illness and we feel life has been changed forever.
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