Do you ever have difficulties? Do you ever experience pain? Has your house ever been robbed? Have you ever had anything stolen? Has your property ever been damaged by a storm? Maybe you have a chronic illness or even a terminal disease. Maybe you've stood over the casket of a loved one. You might have buried a child you bore.

Use your imagination for a moment while we look into the Bible. When the book of Job opens we find ourselves ushered into the throne room of heaven. With all the messengers of God standing in line, the focus falls on Satan. God asks him, "Where have you been?" And like a good errand boy he gives his report.

Afterward God brags on his best, a fellow named Job. Then Satan stomps and spits, "The only reason he remains faithful to you is because you buy him off. You bless him a lot." God's eyes narrow. His voice drops an octave, "Are you questioning the integrity of My friend? He is an authentic believer. Are you slandering his character?" Satan slurs, "The truth hurts, doesn't it?" Consequently God gives Satan permission to attack everything Job has.

Satan steals his livestock and kills his children, then returns to the throne of heaven. God grins, "What do you think of Job now? He didn't compromise his faith did he? You incited Me against him. But in all his pain, he has continued to trust Me totally." Satan growls, "You are still protecting him. Let me put him through some real pain and he will spit in Your holy face, he will curse You." So God replied, "You can harm him in any way imaginable, but you may not kill him. That wouldn't prove a thing."

Later that day Satan struck Job with excruciating agony. The disease ravaged his entire body, head to toe. The Bible tells us he broke a clay flower pot and used the shattered chard to scrape the sores on his skin. The itch. The burning. The pain. Unimaginable.

Job's wife buckled under the strain and advised him to curse God. He answered that she spoke foolishly. He told her that he would accept blessings from God and he would accept hardships. Neither good nor bad would interfere with his faithfulness. Blessings would not cause him to grow cold, apathetic, or self-reliant. Hardships would not cause him to grow bitter, resentful, or turn away from God. He would continue to believe that God is good. Regardless the circumstances, good or bad, Job remained faithful to God. Do we remain faithful?

Not too long after that Satan returned to Hell to report the news to all the legions of demons. He stood there, utterly humiliated as thousands of evil spirits rolled on the floor laughing at their beaten champion. They mocked and ridiculed him. He had been beaten by a mere human. His pride raged within him like the flame of a cutting torch searing every cell of his evil soul. He determined right there that he would attack every human being on the face of the earth with hatred. He would allow none to escape his wrath.

Satan resolved to attack us all. With some he would inflict heartaches within their marriages. The parent-child relationships would become strained or even severed. Others he would afflict with illness and disease. The rest he would prosper with health and wealth so they would grow self-reliant. He knew this prosperity would make it practically impossible for them to turn to God. Somehow, someway he would win. Only one problem. He could not afford to let people learn the secret.

Job knew the secret to survive Satan's attacks. Job, a mere human could not be bought off with prosperity. For years he had maintained his integrity of trust and reliance on God. When criminals and terrorists attacked his property he maintained his integrity of faith in God. When storms killed his children he trusted and worshipped God as the giver of all good gifts. When his body agonized in pain, he remained kind and gracious. Satan had thrown his best at Job and Job had stood firm.

Job demonstrated holiness, sanctification, and an unflinching devotion to God. He had pledged allegiance to his Master and Friend. He remained loyal to the Holy One. He made no compromise with sin. He kept a pure heart. The Bible calls him "perfect, upright, fearing God, turning away from evil."

God trusted him. God trusted Job's heart. God knew that his integrity was pure. God knew that he was not being bought off with blessings. God knew that hardships would not change His friend Job.

Does God know your heart is pure? Can you be bought away from God with prosperity? Do you remain kind and gracious when you are in pain? Do you accept hardships from God without questioning His goodness? Are you God's friend? Does God trust you?

Rev. Ted Beam