Living Room Study

Job 33

“So, Job, please, hear my speech; listen to all my words.  Look, I am opening my mouth; the words are on the tip of my tongue.  I will say exactly what is on my mind; what my lips know they will speak sincerely.  It is the Spirit of God that made me, the breath of Shaddai that gives me life.  So refute me, if you can; organize your words, take your stand!  Look, before God, I’m the same as you; I too am fashioned from clay.  You don’t need to be afraid of me; my pressure on you will not be heavy.” Job 33:1-7

Over the past few years, I have noticed a bumper sticker on more & more cars throughout Southern California. No, it isn’t a Harvest bumper sticker! It is a sticker that reads “coexist”…and the letters are made up of religious symbols: Muslim crescent & star, Satanic pentagram, “e” from the theory of relativity, yin-yang, Karma wheel dotting an “I”, and , of course, the Cross. The problem with this bumper sticker is that it is impossible for these religions to coexist! If you study the teachings of these religions, devout followers of each would always be trying to kill or convert the other. Given these religions’ various conflicting claims to truth, it a naive notion that they could ever live in harmony.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

It is true that we should be respectful to all mankind, remembering that all life is a gift of God. At the same time, we must be certain that the way we choose to worship is the one that leads to eternal life.

“Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life.  N one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

The young Elihu claimed to speak from the Spirit, which was breathed into him by God and gave him life. But just because he was alive, by God’s grace, was no grounds that he was an emissary of it. Satan is obviously speaking lies through this young man. Notice, Elihu’s promise of lightening Job’s spiritual burden, mimics the words of Jesus. The best heresies are those, which closely resemble the real thing. They claim the same God, to divine new revelations from the same Spirit, and they bend God’s Word to mean the opposite of its intended message. From such, turn away. 2 Tim 3:1-5

“All things have been given to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.  Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30

While we are all called to share the gospel, ultimately it is Jesus who reveals the Father to the unbeliever, at the soul level.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins