COSMIC TEST

PART II

 “Did you notice my servant Job?” the Lord asked. “There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships Me and is careful not to do anything evil.” (Job 1:8)

To read the earlier part kindly click here.

Suppose you are a bystander for a friend in a hospital room where the faint smell of antiseptic lingers and whispering voices rustle around you.  Suddenly the doctor appears and predicts about your friend who is in a critical condition.  You are already a victim of your friend’s despair and other emotions.  Everyone in the room awaits your response. How will you console your friend?

Similarly when Job’s three friends who were prosperous and well respected heard about his sufferings, they went to comfort him.  They were overwhelmed on seeing his sufferings. “Then they sat there on the ground with him for seven days and nights without saying a word watching his suffering” (Job 2:13)

Then Job finally broke the silence and each of his friends began to give speech according to their learning and knowledge. These three cycles of speeches and arguments only made Job’s condition worse.  It gives us lessons on how we ought to control ourselves when we visit someone of whom we know are already a victim of their sufferings and pain. 

The friends seemed very sad and emotionally weighed down on  seeing Job’s sufferings.

Initially (in Chapters 4 -14), Job’s friends tried convincing him to see their point of view regarding his sufferings. 

In the second cycle (chapter 15 – 21) their speeches grew with more severe threatening. 

In the third dialogue, his friends made direct accusations against Job. 

According to Job’s friends the God they believed is a God of love and fairness.  They began their arguments stating that Job must have committed some hidden sins for which God has punished him since three of them believed that good people prosper and bad ones suffer.  “But God will never abandon the faithful or ever give help to evil men.”  (Job 8:20)

They were asking him to repent so that God may show mercy and restore everything.  Job believed in a loving God and he is conscious of his dignity in the eyes of his Maker.  He said to his friends, “You cover up your ignorance with lies; you are like doctors who can’t heal anyone.” (Job 13:4)

Dear readers, the cause of each person’s sufferings has got different purpose. Let me take a moment to reminisce my initial days.

The Spirit of God by being united to my soul began to work in me. As Lord chooses and blesses the house of Joshua, so also the Lord prepared my home for His Service.

Though I was not granted physical healing, I received His mighty Grace and a hopeful mind and a new heart in which the Spirit of Karisms were sowed. I was gladdened of my bed ridden life, where I had began to feel His presence in numerous ways.

According to my mood and physical ailment, my Almighty God calmly responded to me. Couple of weeks later, He revealed to me that He was preparing me for His mighty purpose. Yet I was neither hasty nor did I reveal anything to anyone.

I had requested my Spiritual Counselor for a Maundy Thursday Passover meal in March which also happened to be my birthday and extended the invite to a few parish families to partake in it. During the assembly he casually said, “If it is His Will, let God break you also for His purpose.” I bowed down and accepted it in my mind. And it did come true!! Praise the Lord.  May God of KLWC bless with more evangelistic fire on him!

Praiseworthy was the coming month of May! From that day on, it was not only gratitude laden intercessory prayer which arose from my heart but my ears too could hear the groans of those who were wandering in sickness, grief etc. That forced me to lead an intercessory prayer for the universe. The Spirit within me was conversing unceasingly to God.

Thinking that mummy is sick my daughters ran for help to the parish ladies, who brought along a highly traditional dedicated old man who said that I was afflicted with some evil because of my past sinful life. Stood there tolerating him, as he went on to instruct that I need to go in for a good whole confession, so that my grief will vanish. May God bless him!

Within 3 months of time the seeds that had been sowed within me were ready to be reaped. As per the instruction of my Spiritual Counselor and the permission of the parish priest, I went ahead and started KLWC service.

All those who partook in the service began to witness mighty miracles. The pains and groans were soon replaced by joy, peace and healing. Without any barrier of caste, creed or language, many received and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Some even today are faithfully carrying their crosses joyfully! Praise the Lord.

As the count of believers grew, our locality which was a initially a sub parish was promoted to a Parish and soon a parish priest was appointed.

On the other hand, KLWC was growing in multitudes and I found it hard to accommodate those who reached my door for prayer. The Lord who saw the discomfort and inconvenience of my children and neighbors made a way. 

Lord Jesus says about the suffering of a prophet, apostles and disciples. If you are truly suffering for Christ, remember the prophets who lived before you who also were persecuted.  

Dear ones, there are sufferings given to people who are righteous. 

If we go through the Bible, “… it is better to suffer for doing good.  If this should be God’s will, than of doing evil.”  (1 Peter 3:17).  If you are sure of your righteous life don’t give up as your good virtues as soon as an adverse wind blows.  Rather, trust in the Lord completely as Job did, by acknowledging his faith in God even in the midst of his friends’ arrogant accusations. 

Endure the undeserved suffering by being conscious of God’s will and promise.  God will surely bless you for it. 

“Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ’s followers. This means that the glorious Spirit - the Spirit of God is resting on you.  Don’t feel ashamed, but be proud of it, if you suffer because you are truly a follower of Christ.  Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers, be glad for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.”  (Matt 5:11)

The Holy Bible proves that suffering can occur also due to sin.  Once Lord Jesus healed a paralytic man and warned him not to sin anymore.  “Listen, you are well now.  So stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” (John 5:14) Leading a wrong life surely can cause anguish and sickness. “There is no safety for sinners” (Isaiah 48:22). 

Cruel behavior of your past and present life of self and family can instill future fear and restlessness followed by sickness and adversity.  The Holy Bible tells us that “There is no cure for your injuries because your sins are many and your wickedness is great.” (Jeremiah)

So let us examine ourselves in the light of the above Holy Scripture verses and reform our lives accordingly and think. 

Some are fools and despicable because of their godless and evil behavior. Some are living in darkness and gloom like prisoners suffering in chains because they rebelled against the commands of the Almighty God and rejected his instructions. 

Yes, dear ones in Christ it is a widespread fact that children from good God fearing families wander away by rejecting ritual teachings and instructions of their parents, well-wishers and are living wayward lives.  As days advance they suffer with deadly diseases, heavy debts, addictions, brutality for survival, torturing others for pleasures, groupie to do evil, violence and dominant over others, etc. 

Pause and ask yourself! “Are my tragedies due to any of the above reasons?”

Turn back to the teachings and instructions of the Almighty God and to your parents, well-wishers. Our God is not pleased with downfall of His creation. 

God who created us in a special manner, loves to see His creations keeping the fragrance of his virtues grow and make others also to grow in it.  When you live in a worthless manner you go out of His Paradise and loose all His virtues, start producing evil poison and spread it to others causing sickness, diseases and all calamities eventually destroying the world around you.