REPLACEMENTS

There are times when life slips into one of those valleys where all you do is groan “not again” that I am reminded about the story of Job. I have never experienced the trials he was subject to, but I have known what it is to suffer loses of many types and many forms.

In Job’s story, God did after he trial replace what he has lost. The inevitable “happy ending” whether it was fact or simply a literary insert does give one hope that once our misery in a valley ends we too can expect God to replace and restore what we lose.

The only problem is that in some situations what is lost isn’t replaced. And I think ones expectation of having a replacement is balanced in part by what is lost. For example the loss of a child can hardly ever find some replacement for the exact offspring. I’m sure the reader can think of plenty of situations where a replacement will not likely occur. In such episodes like the loss of a child, we cling in faith to the joy of knowing in heaven we will be reunited.

Yet for those things where replacement is possible I think it is only natural if it doesn’t happen to want to know why? Does it suggest that God cares more about Job than he does us? Is his blessing on Job just a convenient tale lacking any reality?

Personally I feel Job was a real person and his story is included for a variety of reason, but the events were one that actually took place. And I believe that despite the times in my own life God has elected not to replace something I have lost.

For me what is my compass of inspiration and hope resides in one of several elements. In the first place I understand that at the time Job lived, man’s view of his relationship with God was primarily focused on this life. It had not yet spiritually matured to think in eternal terms. So blessings and curses had an immediate consequence affecting daily life.

But that was only intended as an object lesson. The ultimate focus of God’s will was and always will be eternity. Which is where our eyes should remained focused when trusting in the Lord.

Does that mean we have no right to expect God to replace what we lose in this life? No it doesn’t mean that either. But I do believe again that with eternity as our destiny and the Lord knowing our heart he in his loving wisdom knows when a replacement will be a real blessing and when it will simply bring back into our lives something that for us is a type of idol.

That may not be of much comfort if one has suffered a loss and struggle to accept it. However, hopefully we can in time once the tears subside allow God’s spirit to minister to our grief. And in his mercy he will grant us the wisdom to understand what at the tiem remains a haze of confusion.

I also hope that we have the strength to be encouraged to accept such loses are necessarily the consequence of sin. They can be, but if we seek the Lord his spirit will help us know the truth and grant us the awareness when those who try to make us feel guilty are merely serving Satan’s purposes as accusers rather than God’s.