Fair weather friends

Ever had a friend who enjoyed all the good times with you but disappeared when the hard times came? I certainly have. Without going into specifics, there have been a couple of major traumas which I experienced in my life which were not made any easier by the distancing of themselves by a couple of so-called "friends". Perhaps its the hard times which demonstrate to us who our real friends are. At the same time, other people were there to step into the breach and demonstrate true compassion and help.

Some marriages are like that too. The excitement of courtship is followed by a fairytale wedding and a romantic honeymoon. The winds of change that blow on all couples suddenly carry along misfortune and hardship, relationships are tested and some crack under the pressure. The promises of "for better or worse" should have read "for better only".

Does God also have fair-weather friends? I suspect there are people who have remade God into their own design, one largely reminiscent of a celestial Santa Claus. They believe in God, He who blesses and provides abundantly. They ask and He supplies. They propose and await God to do their bidding. Like a thwarted toddler, they sulk and withdraw and blame God when things don't go the way that they planned. What a small God they serve, the god of self, rather than the omnipotent Creator of the universe.

In the book of Job we see the story of a remarkable man, I think one of the most godly men in history. Job was immensely wealthy, blessed with family and honoured God above all other things. Tragic circumstances occurred to Job- he lost his children, all his wealth and his health. He was destitute and ready to die. Some well-meaning friends added to his misery by accusing and remonstrating with him. His wife told him to "curse God and die." (Job 2:9)
Yet Job held fast to his faith in God. Job said
"Then I would still have this consolation—
    my joy in unrelenting pain—
    that I had not denied the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:10)

The book of Job is interesting and mysterious, majestic and confusing. We cannot fathom the ways of God and the spiritual conflicts in heavenly realms. We cannot understand why terrible things happen to good people. But we can admire the persistent faith of those who undergo great trials and continue to hold fast to God. God's word tells us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28) and this is no trite platitude but a deep promise. 

Job says

"I wish that my words were recorded

and inscribed in a book,

by an iron stylus on lead,

or chiseled in stone forever.

But I know that my Redeemer lives,

and in the end He will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:23-25)

 Job's suffering had an impact that he never would have known at the time. More than 2000 years later Job's words are recorded in the greatest book of all, the Bible, and are being read throughout the world, still encouraging God's people to know that our Redeemer lives and in the end He will return.