“Man… is of few days…” Job 14:1a

Job’s faulty understanding of his life situation can be clearly seen in his plea before God. However, he did begin with a solid premise: the brevity of life; and that life is full of trouble. He compared the length of one’s life to a flower that springs up and withers away. Job also described the brevity of life to be like a shadow that cannot endure – for a shadow can be lost by clouds, the end of a day, or a larger shadow overcoming it (vv. 1 – 2).

Having stated his premise, Job began his argument with a few questions for God:

·       “Do You fix Your eyes on such a one?” (v.3a)

·       “Will You bring him before You for judgment?” (v.3b)

·       “Who can bring what is pure from the impure?” (v.4a)

This line of questioning was really out of line for Job. He was in way over his head because Job’s assumptions about God were all wrong. He was just as wrong about God as his friends were about him. Job knew all too well that God’s eyes are fixed on all who call upon His name. He also knew that everyone will be brought
before God to be judged.

Change is never easy. Paul described the change in a sinner’s life to be a type of death: dying to sin and living to Christ (Romans 6:11). There is only one Who can bring what is pure from the impure, namely – The Lord God Almighty. Job declared otherwise (v.4b). Job may have been unaware of God’s transforming power to change impure hearts to pure ones. Maybe he never saw proof of such. He may have grown up in a faith-filled family, and like many, never went through a change of heart – for his heart may have been raised as pure and undefiled (though we know all have sinned and come short of God’s glory; read Romans 3:23).

As Christians, although we believe in the power of transformation, we often act just like Job – believing people are really incapable of change. In doing so, we call God a liar (read 1 John 5:10). The proof is in the pudding, and that pudding in found in the lives of those whose hearts have been radically changed by the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. All Believers are people in transition through transformation – it is a lifelong process. We are being changed from one bent towards sin to one who resists temptation and follows Christ.

It is a process that is more successful when one has a right view of God. Are you, like Job, assuming the worst about how God sees you? Or are you sure of this one thing, that He Who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (read Philippians 1:6)? The older I get, the more aware I am of just how sinful I have been and the work God still has to accomplish in me. I am confident, however, in His ability to make all things new… including my heart.

Have a blessed day…