When I first read Car’s suggestion for the theme for May I was thinking I would write about Randy Pausch. ( Look up , ‘The Last Lecture’ on the internet and watch the video…..that says it better than I can anyhow---- he is truly an inspirational person.)

Having thought about it for several days however I decided otherwise. For some reasons that are very valid for me.

All my adult life I have been fascinated by and inspired by the Bible and its many, many stories of the faith and victory of those who have overcome tremendous challenges. One of the most inspirational portions of Scripture is found in Hebrews chapter 11. The 23^rd. Psalm is held to be very inspirational also. You are probably aware that this Psalm is frequently read at Memorial services. You would be mistaken if you thought it was being read for the deceased, because it is being read for the living, for you and for me.

Romans the 8^th chapter is inspiring as well. Also 1 Corinthians 13, and the 91^st Psalm comes to mind as well. So does the 15^th chapter of John. There are of course others but I shall not continue down this path or I shall stray far from the subject at hand.

At this stage of my life and because of the circumstances in which I must live, my most inspirational person currently, is my old friend Job. Yes, Job of the Bible.

Did you know that the Biblical book of Job is considered to be the oldest piece of literature known to man? Did you know that the story of Job and his incredible story of loss and sufferings is paralleled in other cultures and times by stories of similar ‘Jobs’’?

Suffering, pain, and loss have always been part and parcel of life. It is the ‘Warp and Woof’ of mankind’s existence since the beginning of time. We who might be suffering today or experiencing great loss, might do well to look into the oldest of mans’ stories, in the hope of gaining some insights.

Multiple Sclerosis is a terrible disease and it inflicts a host of injuries upon its victims. There are of course other terrible diseases, (but most of them are at least kind enough to kill you!)

When we meet him, Job has lost his family, his wife, his farm, his livestock, his fortune, and finally, his health. Thus it is we meet Job, a shrunken shadow of his former self, sitting naked on a pile of ashes, scraping his flesh with broken scraps of pottery, squeezing out the pus from many boils and sores He also seems to have lost his friends and the three cronies from his former life seem bent on tormenting him still further by urging him to, ‘Curse God and die!’

For some reason it is precisely here that I relate the most to Job. His answer is (and I pray mine shall ever be the same.) "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him!"

Wow! Way to go Job.

Though I suffer the loss of all things, including my very life, may I never cease looking for and believing in the fact that, MY HEAVENLY FATHER WILL CAUSE ME TO TRIUMPH IN THE END. It does not matter what has happened to me in the past, or even what is happening to me now. I am still cared for, I am still loved, I am still provided for, and if all this shall also cease one day, there will still be given unto me untold joy and peace in His Presence, so much so that I will scarcely be able to contain it.

This is not unlike Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross and suffered the loss of all things. It is in this great loss that I find my greatest inspiration. My suffering is not nearly as bad as was Jobs’ and nothing like my Saviors loss.

I wish to conclude with this thought my dear readers. Yes, it is a thought from the Bible, found in the book of Romans, chapter 8, verses 35-39. It reads like this:

"Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down and destroyed, is it because He does not love us anymore? And if we are hungry, or penniless, or in danger, or threatened with death, has God deserted us? No, for the Scriptures tell us we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day for despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.

For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from the Love of God-- Death can’t and life can’t. The Angels won’t and all the powers of Hell cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean, nothing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God, demonstrated for us by our Lord Jesus Christ." (The Living Bible)

There isn’t any more that I can add to these words except to urge those who are frightened and nearly overcome with pain and suffering, and fear and hopelessness,

To cast all your fears upon God who will, in His great love, care for you, in the same way that we have just read about.

Always remember that GOD LOVES YOU---------ALWAYS AND FOREVER

Lazarus, May, 2008

Reach Lazarus by email to comment: hhux@comcast.net

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