Two Leaders

 

Clinging To God When Our World Caves In

 by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

(This Article is by Pastor Chuck Swindoll and was originally published in December 2016)                        

Step into the time tunnel with me and let's travel together back to the distant land of Uz . . .

Wherever it was, Uz had a citizen who had everyone's respect, because he was blameless, upright, God-fearing, and clean living. He had 10 children, lots of livestock, plenty of land, numerous servants, and a substantial stack of cash. No one would deny that he was "the greatest of all the men of the east" (Job 1:3 NASB). He had earned that reputation through years of hard work and honest dealings.

His name was Job, a synonym for integrity and godliness.

Within a matter of hours, without announcement, adversity fell upon Job like an avalanche of jagged rocks. He lost his livestock, crops, land, servants, and—if you can believe it—all 10 children. Soon thereafter he lost his health, his last human hope of earning a living.

I plead with you, please stop reading. Close your eyes, set your imagination free, and identify with that good man who was crushed beneath the weight of adversity.

The Course of History

 

What is the course of history but the aggregate of every choice ever made?

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1)

When you want to convey something of great importance, whether in a workplace environment, or teaching your children, having that person repeat your instructions back to you helps to ensure the accuracy of your message. Psalm 136 uses the same method to teach us a foundational truth about God. 

Steadfast. Love. These are strong, solid words that communicate their meaning. For instance, steadfast: faithful, always present, never alone, will not leave, always listening, always paying attention, working on our behalf, forever. 

And love: what comes to your mind when you hear this word? For some of us our past can radically color the meaning of this word but the accepted definition is, "an intense feeling of deep affection." Other descriptions of the word include, passion, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, delight, taking pride in, safety, always present, selfless, always seeking the best, and so many other descriptions. 

But the fact remains that Creator God is telling us that He loves us, repeatedly, (26 times just in this Psalm) as He seeks to plant this truth deep into our soul.