Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3. 

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21.

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17:1-2. 

This morning in our early morning prayer group we chose closeness with God – Father, Son, Spirit – which brought closeness with each other. We come together to give prayers for those who are hurting and in this fallen world there is hurt and pain and terror and sickness and loneliness. There is also giving, sharing, taking a strangers burden and offering help for a moment that is remembered forever. We recognize what a privilege and blessing it is to come together to praise God in our drawing near to Him. How many small groups are doing that right now? Over 8 billion people in our world today and the need is great. 

And in our chapter, Job 38, the first thing that resonated with me was at the bottom of the page. There was a small chart and the explanation below said so much. Law of Fairness/God…There is a law of fairness or justice that is higher and more absolute than God. It is binding even for God. God must act in response to that law in order to be fair. Our response is to appeal to that law. That was on the left side. And on the right: God/Justice…God himself is the standard of justice. He uses his power according to his own moral perfection. Thus, whatever he does is fair, even if we don’t understand it. Our response is to appeal directly to him. Isn’t the Law of Fairness what Job was appealing to and that Job expected God to answer to? And now, remember the sound of thunder they are listening to? Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? v. 1, 2. God asks a fair question after telling Job the wonders He performed in His wisdom…Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years! v. 21. Was Job there when…the earths foundation was laid…its dimensions marked off…created the morning stars or all the angels…shut the sea behind doors fixing limits for it…shakes the wicked, breaking their upraised arm…seen the gates of death…know the way to the abode of light…v. 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 19. God goes on as the storm continues. Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?…Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain…Does the rain have a father…Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?…Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?…v. 22, 23, 25, 28, 33, 35. Can you imagine sitting where Job and the 4 men are listening to God question them? It’s one thing when we ask questions of ourselves or of others about God. How different to hear God ask us. 

And yet. The same eternal God asking and probing Job’s understanding of Him wants communion with us. This is eternal life…and God is talking with Job and his friends. He’s talking with us too. Do we want to listen? Do we want to come close? Our choice always. In this fallen world tortured in the Sins of all of us hope is thin on the ground. And yet. We can experience a personal relationship with our Creator God. We can learn to be still and ask Him to come into our hearts and minds and in that Presence know His peace. We can begin to know that God provides as we are able to understand and in His provision, we know what trust in our God is. God is our trust. Do you want closeness with God? Tell Him. Open your heart to prayer with Him and then experience something new and wonderful. God’s Love for you. Draw near! He’s here. Always. Don’t be surprised if He leads you to communion with others because God is family and we are His dearly loved. God’s Love lights the way out of the darkness of Sin. Thank You, Lord, for so great a love!