Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.” “Let us go over to the other side.” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:9, 11, 35, 39, 40. 

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11. 

Holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1. 

In reading our chapter, Job 24, I can’t help but feel that Job has, through his own suffering, reached that place where awareness of the suffering of others has become personal. Job has been blessed physically and spiritually his whole life. From that comfort he knew an ordered life where everything made sense and he didn’t have to look at the darker side. I turn away from the ugliness of the darkness of this world but others live there. Job describes what is done to others who cannot escape: They thrust the needy from the path and force all the poor of the land into hiding…the wasteland provides food for their children…Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked; they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold…The fatherless child is snatched from the breast; the infant of the poor is seized for a debt. v. 4, 5, 7, 9. How can this be? There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths. v. 13. In the comfort of his previous life, Job didn’t share in those sorrows. He asks, Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days? v. 1. 

When I woke this morning and opened the shades, the early morning light through low clouds touching the water puddled on the sidewalk looked like silver and all was hushed in beautiful light. The verses cited above in the first paragraph may seem disjointed but they were when Jesus was with the disciples. No matter the circumstances they were in with Jesus – they were held in the safety of the Almighty that even storms could not disobey. The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us). Matthew 1:23. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14. God with us. Job experienced the pain and suffering of the darkness of this world. His unwilling, unwanted exploration of that pain stands for us all who question why. God knew what would happen when Adam and Eve chose to eat from the “tree” of the knowledge of good and evil. So did Satan. Satan torments. The light of God’s love heals us. God with us always. One day the darkness of this evil age will be lifted and be no more. What will remain? God – Father, Son, Spirit – Immanuel – bathing us in the light of His love…redeeming, healing and restoring us for eternal life with Him if we so choose. The choice has always been ours. Remember? Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Matthew 4:15, 16 (Isaiah 9:1,2). From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17. Choose Light. Thank You, Lord, for so great a love that is always near.