Daily Devotional August 2, 2010 - Don't wander too far away

"Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: (speaking about what Bildad had said about being a hypocrite) but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with Him, he cannot answer Him one in a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against Him, and hath prospered?:"  Job 9:1-4

Job was wise and intelligent. When Job said, "who hath hardened himself against Him, and hat prospered?" he was speaking from experience. Job had watched as people around him mocked God and said one thing and did another. Job had understanding that temporary prosperity is not prosperity at all. Wealth gathered by ill-gotten means, scams, gimmicks, false advertising or misuse or mistreatment of people was short-lived. Even if it looked like one had prospered and had a great amount of wealth accumulated, Job knew that in just as short a time they would come to ruin.

Job knew that if you stand against God you stand against yourself. He had figured it out. We need God in order to be complete. No thing or belief system can replace what God instilled in every man, woman and child, i. e., to be enjoined with God through faith. If you know anything about the story of Job, you know he took quite a licking from satan. He lost family, friends, property and health. He had sunk far lower than he could have ever thought possible. He was allowed to suffer at the hands of our enemy, satan, and without mercy he was tortured by his circumstances. If anyone had a beef with God it was Job.

But Job would not separate himself from God just because his circumstances were bleak. Job would not look to God and curse God because Job knew that life is more than what you can see with your eyes, and the long term connection he had with God was greater than the momentary pleasure of separation from God through anger.

satan is still the god of this world system. (2 Corinthians 4:4) satan has convinced many wonderful people that they do not need God. When a lie resides in the place where truth belongs spiritual disease sets in. The deeper one goes away from God the harder it is to come back, because of pride. Pride keeps billions of people away from a right relationship with God. First they believed a lie and now they purport it. It's hard to turn back. If you are not fully invested with God right now, will you take the time and re-commit. Don't miss doing life God's way, just because you may have gone astray a little. It's a lot harder to get back as you wander further into the world.