|
|
|
"Turning Points: Job & One String” Ouch! I simply wanted to illustrate Job from the Bible suddenly losing his
family and all his possessions. I said, “Any time, life can be reasonably
calm when unexpectedly a storm arrives, we stumble and fall…” so to make
my point, I deliberately stumbled down the steps intending to catch myself but
instead lost my balance and really fell to the floor… hard. In my enthusiasm
to make a point, I nearly ruined the service and one of my knees in the process.
I’m getting old! Despite my idiotic flair for the dramatic, stumbling is an unfortunate
element of life. At any time… Ø
The doctor asks to see you in her office to discuss the results of a
recent biopsy. Ø
Your employer schedules a personal appointment. There are rumors of lay
offs. Ø
Your husband confesses he is unfaithful and wants out of the marriage. Ø
On the way to work, a sleepy driver runs a stop sign directly in front of
you. Ø
Your daughter is arrested for shoplifting and reveals a three-year-old
drug addiction. What do you say? What do you do? How could this happen? What went wrong?
The world around you becomes a blur as you find yourself spinning out of
control. The pavement that seemed so firm and sure moments ago has unexpectedly
shifted and you find yourself falling. I don’t like admitting it but if it
hasn’t happened to you yet, it almost certainly will. The best Biblical example is the story of Job, a prosperous farmer living
in the land of Uz. Job is described by God as “the finest man in all the earth – a
man of complete integrity.” (Job 1:8) But before you can say
“stumble,” Job through no fault of his own loses his possessions, his family
and even his health until he is left sitting on an ash heap scrapping his
itching, boil covered skin with a broken piece of pottery. Oh, yeah, sitting
with him are Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Job cries out to God proclaiming his innocence while his so-called
friends begin to offer possible explanations: “Maybe, you did something
wrong? Could it be your children’s fault? Somebody must have done something
wrong! You are simply being disciplined. Don’t be angry with God! Shut up; you
have no right to complain.” Whoa! With friends like them, who needs…
friends? Don’t become too smug because Job’s friends represent our own
well-meaning response when people around us suddenly find themselves stumbling.
Instead of compassion, you offer cheap explanations. Instead of help, I offer
unwanted criticism. Instead of empathy we offer slanderous gossip. Meanwhile,
Job confused and even angry at times continues crying out to almighty God… The immensely talented violinist, Nicolo Paganini, was giving a concert
accompanied by a full orchestra before a standing room only crowd. Suddenly one
string snapped and hung uselessly on his violin. But instead of stopping the
concert, Nicolo frowned in concentration, made musical adjustments and continued
to play. Then to everyone’s surprise another string broke and a third leaving
only one string on Paganini’s violin. What would Nicolo Paganini do next? Dr. Victor Frankl, a Jew, became a prisoner during the Nazi holocaust. At
one point, the doctor was marched into a Gestapo courtroom for the usual false
trial. His captors had taken away his home and family, his freedom, all of his
possessions and forced him to endure months of torture and backbreaking slave
labor. There he stood under the glaring lights being interrogated and falsely
accused in the hands of brutal, sadistic men. Dr. Frankl had nothing left… or
did he? Just when you think all is lost: “Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind.” (38:1) Will Job receive the answer from God he so desperately seeks? What about this mysterious conversation between God and Satan? Can Nicolo Paganini help us survive life’s stumbles when all that remains is one string? Will Dr. Victor Frankl help us discover hope when all seems hopeless? Do you have a prayer need? Click here Larry's most recent series: Turning Points Simeon & Anna: A Church, The Messiah... Wait! Why? Elijah: Victory to Despair to Faith Samson & Temptation David & Getting Even Jacob & Reconciliation Moses & Failure |