Turn back to John chapter 16. I'm going to read this text just
one more time. John 16, 33. Again, this is our Lord speaking
and he says, these things have I spoken unto you, that in me,
that in me you might have peace. In this world, that's a whole
different story. In this world, he says, ye shall
have tribulation. Just write it down. Gonna have
tribulation. But be of good cheer. All be
of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Tribulation. That's, in other
words, affliction, trouble. anguish, to suffer persecution,
to bear a great burden. That's in this world. And listen,
along with that, faith, faith is going to be tried. We're told
that in scripture. It's going to be tested. God
tried Abraham, remember that? Several times Abraham was tried,
but one in particular, he said to him, he said, take now thy
son, take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, and
get into the land of Moriah, and you offer him there for a
burnt offering on the mountain, which I'll tell you of, and Abraham
He did as God commanded. And if you look at the end of
that, or later on in that chapter, Genesis 22 verse 12, the Lord
said this, He said, for now, after He'd done that, after He'd
offered Him up, He said, I know that thou fearest God, seeing
that you've not withheld your only Son, thine only Son from
Me. And when Abraham obeyed God,
he took that knife to slay something, and God stopped him. He said,
now I know. Now I know that you fear God,
seeing you've not withheld him from me. Now I know. Faith will be tried. It's going to be tried in different
ways. You know, the trial of faith doesn't come to every person
in the same way. Not every believer is tried in
the same way. Not like Joseph or Job or Peter. And faith's tried individually.
1 Peter 1, 7 says this, it's the
trial of your faith. It's tried individually. Faith's
tried for a purpose. Our Lord has a purpose in everything
He does, including trial. And He's going to fulfill that
purpose for the good of His sheep and for His glory. I was thinking about this. What
are we to do? What are we to do when trial
comes? What can we, knowing that they're
coming, and for many already been experienced and more to
come. But what can we learn from trial? What can we learn from trouble? Our opening text is said, in
this world, it didn't say you might or probably, it said you
shall. You shall have tribulation. We're
still only surprised when it comes though, aren't we? Well,
again, what's our response? In the book of Job, we read of
a man who was greatly, greatly troubled. Possibly more than
any man that's ever walked this earth, apart from our Savior. Let's turn together there this
evening, just for a little bit, and look in the book of Job. Look at verse 1. There was a man in the land of
Uz whose name was Job. And that man was perfect and
upright. Now that word perfect, it doesn't
mean that he was without sin. It means he was sincere and upright. He was honest. and man of integrity,
and he was one that feared God and eschewed evil. He departed. He departed from
evil. He tried to stay away from it. And I believe you could have
looked at Job and you would have said he had pretty much everything. As we would say, he had it all.
He was a man of wealth. He was a man of power and authority. Look, he had wealth. Look at
verse 3. It says his substance was 7,000
sheep and 3,000 camels and 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she-asses,
a very great household so that this man, he was the greatest
of all the men of the East. He was a great man. He was a
wealthy man. He was a family man. If you look at verse 2,
just back a verse, you'll read there, he had seven sons and
three daughters. He had a pretty good-sized family.
But in a short amount of time, everything, everything he has,
everything he counts dear is going to be taken from him. His
wealth, His children, gone. And his friends would forsake
him. Those that he loved turned against
him and even his wife. This was her advice to him. She
said, do you still retain your integrity? Just curse God and
die. That was her advice to him. But we read. When Job learned
of these things happening, he ran his mantle, and he shaved
his head, and he fell down on the ground, and he worshipped. We all, to some degree, I think,
attempt to hide our sorrow. Job didn't. And I'm not sure
how we, I think sometimes we view showing sorrow as maybe
a sign of weakness or maybe a lack of faith, but I don't know where we come up
with that. You know, when Moses died, the children of Israel
grieved for him for 30 days. They continually grieved for
him. We sorrow, we sorrow, but listen, we don't sorrow like
those that have no hope. We read that he worshipped. He
fell down on the ground and he worshipped. We read in Psalm
62 verse 8, trust in him at all times. When are we to trust him? When things are going well, Scripture
says, trust Him at all times. Pour out your heart before Him.
God is a refuge for us. So what can we learn? What can
we learn from this passage of Scripture? What are these lessons
that we can learn in times of trouble? Look at Job 121. First is this, life is short. Job said, naked came I out of
my mother's womb, naked shall I return thither. I came and
I'll return. In Psalm 90 verse 10, we read
the days of our years are threescore and ten. And if reason and strength
come, four score. Yet is there strength, labor,
and sorrow, for it is, he says, soon cut off. And we fly away. 70 years. 70 years, but it is soon cut
off. It's short. Our lives are compared
in scripture to a flower. That flower comes forth in beauty,
doesn't it? And in just a short amount of
time, it's cut down. Or if it stays up, it just turns
brown and all the petals fall off. Soon cut down. You know whether it's seven days,
that's how long David and Bathsheba's son lived, seven days. or 120
years. Moses lived 120 years. Regardless,
it's short. It's short. Why is that so important
to know? Why should we be reminded that
life is short? Well, in Psalm 90 verse 12, it's
entitled the Psalm of Moses. Listen to these words. Moses said, teach us to number
our days. that we may apply our hearts
to wisdom. You know, we waste a lot of time,
don't we? We find a lot of things to waste
time on. Wouldn't we be wise to just spend
a little of that time in God's Word? Spend a little time to
apply our hearts to wisdom, to Christ, to the Lord Jesus Christ
who is our wisdom? that we would give our attention
to not so much the things of this earth, but to eternal matters,
the salvation of our souls. Paul, Paul writing in 2nd Corinthians,
he said this, for we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ. Well, in times of sorrow, and
listen, in all times for that matter, we should consider the
brevity of this life. Listen to, well, turn over there
with me just a few pages to Job 19. Let's turn over a few chapters
there to Job 19. Beginning with verse 23. Damn wrong scripture there. Listen,
Job said this, he said, oh, that my words were written. Oh, that they were printed in
a book. That they were graven with an
iron pen and lead in the rock forever. He said, for I know. I know that my Redeemer liveth. and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for
myself, and mine eyes shall behold and not another, though my reins
be consumed within me." Life is short. Eternity, on the
other hand, eternity is forever. Well, second, Job knew something of the frailty
of earthly possessions. He said, naked, naked I came
into this world. You know, when a little one is
born, when they come into this world, what do they have? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They don't
possess anything. When a man dies, go to the other
end, when a man dies or a woman dies, I ask you, what do they
possess? What do they take with them? We go out the same way we come
in. They put some covers up with
something in the coffin, right? But listen, we take nothing with
us. The Lord taught this to Job and
all those who would learn by his example. The frailty and
the vanity of all those things that we have in our hands. Those
things that we call our own. We learn that at an early age,
don't we? We say, that's mine. I don't know that we ever get
away from that, right? That's mine. But listen, we brought
nothing into this world and we'll carry nothing out. In fact, 1
Timothy 6 verse 7 says this, we brought nothing into this
world and he says it's certain. It's certain. It's clear. It's
evident. It's certain. that we're going
to carry nothing out. In Luke 12, our Lord told a parable. He said, a man's life consisteth
not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And He told
that parable of a certain rich man. Remember that rich man whose
ground it brought forth plentifully? And that man thought within himself,
he said, what shall I do? I have no room where to bestow,
he didn't say what the Lord's given me, did he? I have no place
to bestow my fruits. And he said, this will I do. We probably ought to pay attention
and listen. When we keep using my and I,
we'd probably be good to just maybe shut it down for a little
minute. He said, this will I do. I will
pull down my barns and I'll build greater. And there will I bestow
all of my fruits and all of my goods. And I will say to my soul. So thou hast much good laid up
for many years. Take thine ease, eat, drink,
and be merry. But then God spoke. God said
to him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of
thee. And then, when I do that, then
Whose shall those things be? Those things which you've provided,
who are they going to belong to then? Naked. Taking nothing with us. But you know there's good news.
There's good news. A man can leave this world differently
than he came into it. How did we come into this world?
Speaking lies. We came into this world as sinners, but by God's grace and mercy,
through faith in Christ Jesus, we can leave justified. We can leave redeemed. We can
leave this world free from sin. Eternal life, where's that found?
In his son. It's found in Christ. Without him, without him, we'll
die just as we were born, sinners. Well, third, Job saw the hand
of God in all things. I hear men and women went When
good things happen to someone, and you hear it too, what do
they say? They might say, they might say,
boy, they're blessed. Boy, they were blessed. More often they say, sure is
lucky. Boy, that one sure is lucky. But you know if it's bad, If
it's bad, really bad, what do they say? Well, they're unlucky
or I'm not sure if they're blaming the devil or giving the devil
glory for what's happened. Huh? The devil. The devil did
it. What did Job say? Look back there
in Job 1. What did he say? Verse 21. Who did he attribute all these
things to? The Lord. He said, the Lord gave and the
Lord hath taken away. The Lord gave. Every good gift and every perfect
gift, where's that come from? From above. from above and cometh
down from the Father of light with whom there is no variableness
or shadow of turning." Back in Daniel 4, 29, the Lord brought
all those things that he brought to pass on Nebuchadnezzar. He told him it was going to happen.
It had been foretold. Nebuchadnezzar walked into the
palace of the kingdom of Babylon and the king spake and he said,
Is not this the great Babylon that I have built for the kingdom
of my might, the might of my power, the honor of my majesty? He didn't attribute any of that
to God, did he? He didn't give God the glory. For any of that,
who do you attribute to? Himself. Answer this question, not out
loud, but just answer this question. Who maketh thee to differ? What do you have that you did
not receive? And if you received it, how do
you glory as if you didn't receive it? Job didn't say, I earned
these things, I deserve these things, I worked really hard
for all this. No, he said, it's all the gift
of God, the Lord gave. A man can receive nothing, nothing
except it be given him from heaven. Everything we have, physically,
mentally, materially, spiritually, is a gift of God. You know, even repentance toward
God, faith in God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, what are they?
The gift of God. The Lord giveth. And Job said
this, he said, he gives. But He also takes away. The Lord
giveth and the Lord taketh away. The hand of God, it's by His
hand that we receive it. It's also by His hand that things
are withheld. Job saw the hand of God in all
that was taken from him. Look back at Job chapter 1. Look at verse 13 of Job 1. There was a day when his sons
and his daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest
brother's house, and there came a messenger unto Job and said,
The ox were plowing, the asses feeding beside them, and the
Sabeans fell upon them and took them away. Yea, they've slain
the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only am escaped
alone to tell thee." All your servants have been slain,
Job. I ask you, did he blame the Sabeans? Look at verse 16. While he was
yet speaking, There came also another, and said, The fire of
God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and
the servants, and consumed them, and I only am escaped alone to
tell thee." The fire of God's fallen. Did
Job raise his hands up and curse God? Did he charge Him with foolishness? Verse 17. While he was yet speaking,
there came also another and said the Chaldeans made out three
bands and they fell upon the cattle or the camels and have
carried them away, yea, they've slain the servants with the edge
of the sword and I only am escaped." Did Job blame the enemy? Did
he blame the Chaldeans? Can it get any worse? I can't even imagine. Look at
verse 18. While he was yet speaking, there
came also another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating
and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. And behold,
there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the
four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they're dead. And I only am escaped alone to
tell thee." Did Job blame Mother Nature? Did he blame the wind? No. Look at verse 20 and think
about this. I mean, Job lost everything,
even his children. These same children that you
read the book of Job, he'd go out and offer a sacrifice for
them, all of his children every day. He said in the event that
one of them sinned, he knew the importance of a covering. He knew the importance of a sacrifice. And one big wind comes through
and they're gone. What did he do? What did Job
do when this happened? Look at verse 20. He rose and
he rent his mantle and he shaved his head and he fell down upon
the ground and he worshiped. He said, naked I came out of
my mother's womb, naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave,
who gave? The Lord gave. And the Lord, the Lord hath taken
away. Turn with me to Romans 8. Romans chapter 8, look at verse
28. And we know, we know. We may not comprehend it. We
may not understand it. And listen, if we're being honest,
there's times we even question, why'd this happen? Why'd this
have to come to pass? Why? In spite of that, we still know,
don't we? We know. Not a matter of opinion, not
a matter of uncertainty, but we know this as surely as we
know that we're redeemed by the blood of Christ. We know that
all things, all things, God the Father, God the Son, God the
Holy Spirit, all things, angels, rulers, ministers, even evil beings such as Satan,
all things. All the things we enjoy, peace
and prosperity, health, happiness, and all those things that we
consider bad. Wars, famine, sorrow, sickness,
even death. All things. Shall not the judge
of the earth do right? All things work together under
God's direction, under his control for this, to fulfill his purpose
for his people. All things work together for
good. Now that doesn't necessarily
mean our present comfort, but it's for our eternal good. And one day, one day, those of
you who believe Christ, those of you who rest in Christ, are
going to be with Him. That's what Scripture says. We're
going to be with Him and we're going to be made like Him. All these things, that's what
they're working together to accomplish. For who? Read on. To them that love God. To them
who are called according to His purpose. Does that mean God loves everybody?
It's not what that says, is it? That's not a blanket promise
to all men, but to those who have received Christ, those who
love Christ, those who've been effectually called by His grace
to saving faith in Him. Isaiah 45 verse 5 says, I am
the Lord, There is none else. No God beside me. I girded thee,
though thou hast not known me, that thou may know from the rising
from the sun, from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord. There is none
else. I form the light. I create darkness. I make peace. I create evil. I, the Lord, do all these things. Drop ye down ye heavens from
above, let the skies pour down righteousness, let the earth
be opened up, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness
spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it." Fourth, and I'll close. Job declared that in all things,
And at all times, God is to be praised. Look at Job 121 one
more time. Look at these last seven words. Job 1 verse 21. Job says, Blessed be the name
of the Lord. in deep waters, and on the mountaintop,
in everything, give thanks. In everything, give thanks. This
is the will of God concerning you. There was a man named William
Cowper. And he grew up in what was considered,
at that time, a Christian home. And his mother died when he was
just a young boy. And that being so, he kind of
grew up without a mom or really a dad. And he was placed in a
boarding school. And that wasn't a good time either.
He was bullied and mistreated. And as he grew older, four times
he sank into depression. And finally, on that fourth round
of depression, he was placed in an asylum. And the doctor that was caring
for him left a Bible in that room for him to read, left it
on the table in hopes that he might pick it up and read it.
which he did, and eventually he would come across the account
of the Lord Jesus Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. He said when he read that he
saw something of God's mercy, of God's goodness and sympathy
to a dead man, a miserable man. And it was William Cowper that
would later write these words. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage
take. The clouds you so much dread
are big with mercy, and they shall break in blessings on your
head. Judge not the Lord by feeble
sense, but trust him for his grace. Behind a frowning Providence,
he hides a smiling face." Well, that adds a lot more to
those words, doesn't it? That's the man who wrote those
words. Well, four lessons learned in
trouble. Life is short. These earthly
possessions are frail and temporary. God's hand is in all things,
and listen, in all things, God is to be praised. I pray he'd be pleased to remind
us of these things, to teach us these things, to give us faith
to believe and cause us, in all things, what we consider good
or bad, to rest in Him, to rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. All
right.