Failures and Downfalls in Christian Living
"The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding."
(Job 28:28)
Failures and downfalls have been part of many of our lives. Surely such moments of unprecedented incidents and emotions have made a huge impact on us. For some of us, these failures and downfalls have changed the situations, the circumstances, the people and even our lifestyle. We were led to have a different perspective about our lives and the purpose for which we have been created. But through all this, there lies a big question in the heart of a believer! "Why failures? Why downfalls? Why did God, in whom I trust, allow these in my life?"
Nearly a decade ago, I was facing failures, one after the other. I was broken. It took time for me to change perspectives about life and achievements. It took me the next few years to see the fruits of that suffering. And while I was going through this series of failures and downfalls, one verse from the Bible that was always kept before me was "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). Even though I was not clear a decade ago about what was meant by this word "knowledge" in that Bible verse, it has taken me this far to slowly make a little sense of it (not a full understanding). I was always questioning this. I wanted to know why was this Bible verse so appealing to me, especially in that difficult part of my life. As time went on, I was also questioning the "wisdom" that King Solomon has spoken about. The Book of Proverbs kept me questioning the words "wisdom and knowledge" and, thanks to the Lord for His help, that these questions always make me associate them with "fear and faith!"
One of the greatest realisations after reading the book of Job was the above verse, Job 28: 28, that we have taken for today's reflection. For me, the entire Book of Job was leading towards this great understanding of human perspective towards God. To fear God and to shun evil: the two sides of wisdom and understanding. Now how does that make sense in the midst of failures and downfalls in Christian living? The incidents in the life of Job, and his faith beyond these calamities bring in the answer.
While I encourage you to read the Book of Job and go through the understanding of Job's exemplary life of faith, I also understand that the author of the Book of Job had a great message of faith to "godly sufferers" (those who fear God and shun evil). An interesting note of introduction to this book by the NIV study passage says that "When good people suffer (godly sufferers), the human spirit struggles to understand. Throughout recorded history, people have asked: How can this be? If God is almighty and "holds the whole world in His hands" and if He is truly good, how can He allow such an outrage?" (Theological Theme and Message - NIV).
What do we learn from Job, and how he came through calamities as a God-fearing, God-depending, God-hoping believer until in the end? Indeed, "Job was a wealthy man [...] with his large family and extensive flocks. He was “blameless” and “upright,” always careful to avoid doing evil" (Job 1:1). Job feared God and shunned evil! Satan came with God's approval to test Job. And it was this unshakable, unmoving faith that kept Job nearer to God and made him sail across this human calamity. I would like to encourage you to read some of the important details of what had happened to Job by reading the Book of Job; to what extent Job was being tormented. Surely one thing is very clear throughout the book, and that is, right from the beginning of the book to the end, Job was careful and mindful to "fear God" and "shun evil." This was the great wisdom and understanding that Job had. And these were the two essential spiritual characteristics that made Job a great spiritual giant of influential example for all of us. Job was a "godly sufferer," and his faith was unmovable throughout the seasons of temptations, loss, pains, failures, downfalls, and extremes of human emotional and physical suffering.
Today, these two spiritual characteristics, wisdom and understanding, stand as the anchors that will hold us spiritually in the midst of failures, loss and downfalls in Christian living. We are called to be vigilant, especially when we go through these difficult times, and to "fear God and shun evil." These two spiritual practices will help us float, will push us through difficult waves and will help us see the shores of great blessings that our Lord our God has in the end for us all. Let us not turn our back on the Lord and curse Him when we go through difficult times. Let us remind ourselves that the Lord who has blessed us in the past will surely help us to come through these difficult times too, and will lead us to a refreshed start.
May the blessings and power of God the Father, the love and grace of Christ Jesus the Son, and the fellowship and guidance of the Holy Spirit be with us and help us as we continue to fear God and shun evil even in the midst of failures, losses and downfalls in our lives.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
