Job XXVIII

 In a culture obsessed with self, an individual obsessed with God will stand out like a ray of sunshine peeking through an overcast sky. It’s not because they are trying to draw attention to themselves or vying for the spotlight, but their nature is such that though they are but a man walking among men, they will be singled out as something different, special, and unique. Those of the darkness whose conscience has been seared will bristle at their conduct, their way of life, and their attitude toward their circumstances, seeking to deride and downplay their seemingly contrarian existence, while those being stirred and called toward the light will see them as a beacon toward which they will naturally gravitate.

In the world’s eyes, they are not special but rather an oddity. They know something is different about the lady working the register at the local grocery store, but they can’t put their finger on what. They know that the guy who stopped to help them change a tire on the side of the road for no other reason than to help someone in trouble isn’t common, but they do not perceive what makes him uncommon.

When we are true followers of Christ, walking in His way and clothed in righteousness, even though we might go about our day as anyone else, our attitude and demeanor will be noticed. It’s not about how we dress or how we present ourselves but about the inner light that shines in us and the way we interact with those around us. It’s not about what’s on the outside; it’s about what’s inside of us that makes us peculiar people.

Last night, I had to go to the store to pick up some lemons. My wife’s been on this cayenne pepper and lemon juice kick lately, and noticing that she was out of lemons and would need some in the morning, I thought I’d save myself from trudging to the store upon waking. I’m a creature of habit, so when I wake up, it’s usually a couple of hours before anyone in the house does. I can read, write, and drink my coffee without the melodic sounds of violins, cellos, or children asking where their tennis shoes went. Spoiler alert: the tennis shoes didn’t go anywhere; no one snuck in and took them, and they are exactly where they were left the previous night.

I grabbed my lemons and went to the checkout. The lady at the register scanned my purchase. As I handed her a five-dollar bill, she looked at me and said, “You’re the first person to smile at me today, and I’m at the end of my eight-hour shift.” It wasn’t intentional; it wasn’t something I’d planned, and I hadn’t thought about smiling as I walked up to the register; it’s who I am, my nature, and it is naturally occurring.

Job didn’t have to force faithfulness. He didn’t have to force worship or obedience. He didn’t have to force being blameless and upright, it was who he was, his nature, and he couldn’t help being any other way.

The knowledge of Christ, rebirth, salvation, and sanctification are transformative experiences. One’s life is forever transformed once they encounter God, and the clear demarcation will always be clear. You had a life before Christ; now you have a life after Christ. They cannot be the same because it is impossible for someone to be born again and still remain the old man, laden with sin and vice, taking succor from the darkness the world has to offer. Your life is no longer your own. You are in Christ, belonging to Him; otherwise, whatever experience you might have had was superficial, a surface-level emotional response, and not salvific.

We must be anchored in Christ if we are to keep from getting swept away by the storms of life. We cannot face trial in our own strength, or in our own understanding, but through the power of Christ in us, submitting to His will, clinging to faith in all things that we might overcome. Whether or not we endure to the end is a choice we make, but we must have the capacity for endurance well established before being required to endure.

Nobody wakes up the morning of a marathon and decides to run it. I’m well aware that the first thing that crossed your mind was what I could possibly know about running marathons, to which I can only say that I read a lot. I run only if I’m being chased by something that wants to eat me, and since I live in Wisconsin, there aren’t that many things that see yours truly as a tasty morsel. However, I’ve known people who got into running, and they’ll train for upwards of six months, steadily building up their endurance until the day of the race, where they’ll have to test their limits and exert themselves to the utmost in order to cross the finish line. Building up endurance is a process, and in order to stick it out, you must have a purpose and a goal in mind.

Job’s purpose was the presence of God in his life and the desire to bring glory to God through his endeavors. It’s not something that started when his world crumbled around him. It had been established for years on end, so much so that God took note. Not even Satan could find something negative to point to in Job’s conduct, even though he likely scoured the whole of his existence hoping to find some small thing he could magnify disproportionately and then present to God as the reason He overestimated Job’s faithfulness.

If Satan’s got nothing on you, then he’s got nothing on you. It’s the reason the Word insists that we, as children of God, must walk circumspectly, being above reproach, sober-minded, and self-controlled.

Whenever compromise is allowed to nest in men’s hearts, it’s akin to the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, creating an atmosphere of anxiousness and trepidation as they wonder when the horsehair will break and the sword will pierce their flesh. Though they have built kingdoms, because their kingdoms were of this earth, they live in constant fear of what they’ve built coming to ruin due to their hidden sin. Because their sin holds sway over their lives, and they are unwilling to humble themselves and repent, the entirety of their existence revolves around keeping the plates spinning rather than serving God. Because their purpose is not the will of God but rather their reputations, the fortunes they’ve amassed, or the fiefs they’ve cobbled together when their sin finds them out, their first reaction is damage control or putting a positive spin on it. As John so eloquently said, “They went out from among us because they were not of us.” Do not mourn those who were never of the household of faith to begin with. They are wasted tears.

“Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” - Jesus

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.