Job was a man given a great deal by the Lord. He had a wife from whom came severn sons and daughters. He had many positions and he was healthy. However, the Lord God allowed Satan to take away all that Job had. Job did not know the reason for his calamity. His friends made the assumption that Job did something wrong. They told him to confess and forsake his sin. However, Job knew that he had done nothing wrong, yet this calamity came upon him. He had not sinned in the way that his friends assumed. Job wanted ask God what have I done to deserve this calamity?
I have seen a great deal of human suffering during my years as a Critical Care Registered Nurse. Early in my career, I made the assumption, like Job’s friends did, that the individual had done something to bring this calamity upon themselves. However, this just does not fit with reality. All die but some people suffer a great deal more than others and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for it.
The son of God, Jesus the Christ came from God, he suffered, he died for our sins, he was buried and he rose again the third day. Repentance for forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed in his name to all the nations. All authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth; so why is there suffering now? Why is it that evil persist on the earth? Throughout the history of mankind, men have suffered and all have died. Nothing changed after the resurrection and ascension of Christ to the righthand of the Father; men have continued to suffer and all still die. It makes one ask, what is God waiting for? If Jesus is on the throne, why has evil continued to reign on the earth? Sin, suffering and death have not been done away.
It is not for us to understand why but to trust in the goodness of God. He has promised in his word, a resurrection of the body and life everlasting in a new heaven and new earth, for all who have repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. This has been understood throughout church history as an already not yet reality. So, hold on, continue to trust in the word of God, even when suffering and your love ones die.
In Christ alone,
Michael Peek
The Nurse Theologian
