Job: Chapters 18-19

Bildad Speaks: God punishes the wicked

Arapahoe Basin | Colorado

Why don't you stop searching out for the words you know are true and say what you truly feel. Consider your words before you spew out such blasphemy. Why do you consider us meaningless and without wisdom? Who are you to look down on us? Look at yourself, you have torn yourself apart in anger, yet you plea with God that you are righteous. Fool, God does not bend His will to your feelings. Clearly, God is judging you for your sins, He has put out the false light that you have hung above your head, God does not allow the wicked to portray themselves as righteous. This man attempts to walk strongly but God minimizes his strides, he has schemes that God foils. He destroys himself through his own pride and allows himself to be trapped by the world around him. His paths are wicked and they are riddled with traps that will be set upon his flesh. He is brought before the Holy One and is consumed by his own sin, he falsely believes in his own righteousness and throws himself before God as an unholy being who will be consumed in the lake of fire. He is removed from all light and the presence of God and is condemned to eternal damnation. These are the ramifications of false righteousness before our God, clearly, you do not know Him as I know Him.

Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives

Why must you continue to tear me down and break me apart with your fruitless babble? Ten times you have done this, do you not feel ashamed for your actions? What level of pride do you have within you? Even if what you say is true, that I have erred against God almighty, then it is between myself and God. He is the judge and jury, there is no other. Why do you zoom in on my sins and continue to break me down in disgrace as you argue against me? Know this, God has put this on me and placed barriers around me so that I can not commune with Him. It is His doing. Listen! I have cried out: Violence! But I hear no response, I call for help but there is no justice from the Judge. He has placed me in a basilica and placed a moat around it with no bridge, thus I cannot escape. He has blotted out the light within me so there is only darkness within my prison. He has taken me from His presence and ripped the crown from my head. God has ripped me from the roots and taken everything away from me, I have no identity anymore. He has put those who are close to me further than an arm's length, those who knew me for who I truly am are estranged from me. My family has failed me, my best friends condemn me and are long gone, no one knows who I am anymore nor do they care. Even my own wife does not recognize my own breath when I speak, she speaks evil against me and screams for me to curse God and die a fool. Have mercy on me, friends! God has touched me with His hand and given me what has befallen. Why are you mimicking God and pursuing me? Are you not satisfied with my flesh being broken? Do you seek my soul to be burned in the fires of hell as well? Someone allow me to write these words for all to see and speak of these days! They need to be in a book and remembered forever! I know that my Redeemer is alive and that He will return to the earth. He will come long after my body has been destroyed and returned to the dirt, yet I will see God and my eyes will behold his Glory one day. Oh, that day should come now! My heart yearns to be reunited with my creator and Lord. Judgment is coming, wrath brings the sword, the root of all things is found in God - you all must prepare your hearts for the coming of the King and pursue Him.

Dear Lord, I am stuck within a vicious cycle of falling away from you and then pleading to find your presence. I have in my life many things I pursue that are not You. I know the truth and I understand it within my heart, mind, and soul. But, my knowledge does not lead me towards you. Purify within me a clear mind and a pure heart that can feed my soul the eternal things and steer away from the worldly. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapters 16-17

Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You | Where Then Is My Hope?

Shenandoah National Park | Virginia

I have already heard what you are saying and have received it, where is the comfort in your words? It isn't there, nor do you mean to be comforting. Will you ever stop speaking out against me? What is working within you that provokes a response of despair? If roles were reversed, and I looked into your eyes and saw the pain and misery I currently endure, I could join with the others and break you down whilst pridefully shaking my head at your failures. I could build you up with my words and strengthen your brokenness. I wish you would encourage me, as I hope I would do for you in your time of need. If I talk about where I am currently, I am discouraged and my pain does not become lessened. If I stay silent about my predicament, I find no solace nor comfort in it. What am I supposed to do? I am wired, I am worn, my shoulders are being weighed down and I can no longer bear this burden. God has turned all my company against me and no longer do any of you support me in a helpful way. He has broken my body down to its very core and I have been whittled away as a carpenter cuts at a block of wood. Yet, I have not been perfected into something beautiful, I am not a piece of art, I am hideous to behold and not worthy of anything but to be cast aside like trash. I was living a life of ease, then God came and seized me and has thrashed me again and again. He destroyed all that I was and has condemned me to a life of suffering. I have wept for such a long time that it is normal, my face is red with pain and tears, I no longer resemble the man I once was. Darkness prevails where light once did, even though I have no violence in me. I pray to God that He would be my witness and testify for me and not against me. I plead my case and wish that others would do the same for me. My final days are approaching and I shall go away to the place where none return from and my life will be complete.

Not only is my body broken, but my spirit is also as well. My path leads only to the grave, my days are complete and I merely await the coming of my death. Clearly, there are many who mock me and my gaze is turned toward them as they break me down with their words and judgment. How long must I continue to be immersed in their rude behavior? I beg you, Lord. Show your support for me in a public way, write it in big bold print and send it signed: God. Who else will defend me if not you? You have closed the door to their hearts without allowing them to understand my calamity and have led them astray in their beliefs. Their children will remember this betrayal and be lesser for the actions of their fathers, do you want that? Everyone who looks on me now trusts me not, they see me as a sinner who is without saving and shall be condemned to hell. I am nothing but the physical body that you gave me, Lord. I am covered in shame from head to toe, I am no longer considered a man that has a spirit of the Lord within me, I am nothing but a hell-bound sinner who has betrayed the God Almighty. Those with reputation spit on me, they turn their back on me, those who consider themselves upright are appalled at what is happening to me because in their meek minds they believe that I have brought this upon myself. Who is truly righteous among us all? Really! Someone, who is man, shows me his righteousness before God and proves that you are pure. Call on God to send an angel who can prove someone's righteousness, I dare you. We will not find a wise man among all of you. The desires of my heart are no longer attainable, all my plans have been cast into the depths of the sea and cannot be returned to me, I no longer can decipher between what is darkness and what is light. If I cast out all hope and attempt to pray for a royal burial, what other hope do I have but to be six feet under and live the remainder of my days amongst the worms, where is the hope in this? If I allow death to become my ultimate hope, where is the hope? I see no hope in any of these options. I see no glory in death for my case.

Job 17:11 - "My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart." | I resonate with this sentiment very closely at the current time in my life. I feel as though I have come to a place where I can no longer make plans and pursue the desires of my heart for a lack of knowing whether or not I have a future. Yes, everyone says you should plan for the future regardless of your circumstances. However, I don't believe that those people were in the current predicament I find myself in today. It is easy to say things like that when life is good and you have no thorns in the flesh if you will. I do everything I can to put cancer on the back-burner and pursue things like a relationship or continue with rock climbing as I did before, or hike mountains, enjoy friendships, etc. But, there is a stigma to all these things, there is an inescapable underlying knowledge and aroma in the air that is contaminated and cannot be overcome, I have stage IVb metastatic melanoma and the odds of me seeing many more years is highly unlikely. How do you continue to live normally within that environment? I do everything I can to do it, but it isn't realistic. I recall 27 years and 6 months of time where the idea of cancer, or dying, never even had a millisecond within my thoughts. Now, I cannot escape these thoughts even when I sleep. I lay my head down and it is before me, I wake in the morning and it is as if I never slept, the fog covers me without seizing. I know the foundational truths that God promises me, I know how much He loves me, I know that my afflictions are eclipsed by His glory, but I do not know how to release the grip that my hands, mind, and heart have on my disease. 

Dear Lord, I pray that you would give me the strength to overcome this disease. I hope that you will continue to grant my doctors and consultants the knowledge to be able to attack my cancer in a way that will work and be able to destroy those cells. Be by my side during this time and be my shield against other sins in my life that try to creep back into my heart. Guard my heart against worldly things and set in me a perspective beyond this world. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 15

Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God

Tenney Crags | Colorado Springs, CO 

If you are so wise, why do you answer with silly lies that spew from your mouth? Clearly, you are speaking hot air to all of us. Why do you babble on when we are speaking on the very serious matter of where your soul is heading? Keep your trivial religion to yourself and utter not anymore empty gossip before us as we try to speak of spiritual things that will endure forever. You know why you speak like this, your sin taught you. You have sinned far beyond anything you would want to admit and it has blinded you from the truth. You have chosen to allow your tongue to do your evil bidding. Look at you! Your tongue has betrayed your religion and it convicts you of blasphemy. I am not condemning you, you condemn yourself with every word! Are you Adam? Did God mold you from the dirt and knit your fig leaves? Surely you must be him who came first since you are all-knowing. I suppose you sit with God in His counsel and He seeks your advice on things of the universe? I surmise that you and God have limited our wisdom, in one of your many discussions, and you are far beyond us? What is it that you perceive to know that we do not? Who are you to us? We have lived longer than you and have become wise throughout our long years. Do you not believe that God is comforting you? Does not the word of God invade your every moment? Your heart and eyes are turned from the Lord and shout in blasphemy against Him. Mankind, ha. What a joke, we are nothing before God. He created us not to be pure, but to be unrighteous. God does not even trust His angels, let alone His fallen creation. Not even the Heavens are pure in His perfect sight! Yet, you call yourself Holy, someone who has surely sinned against God in such a grievous way that He is punishing you for it. Come clean! Listen to my stories that have been passed down from wise man to wise man: Those who are wicked will live in pain for all their lives. They will hear evil in their ears and even in days of prosperity the angel of death will come upon him and destroy all that he has prospered. The man will be left begging for food among those who are considered untouchable. Darkness is at hand and he will know it. He will not know peace or comfort, fear and anguish will mark his days and he will see that all prevail against him in the shadows. No one will be trusted and he will speak out against all those who know him. All of this will be due to him because he spoke out against God and chose to live his life in evil and not in purity. He defied the almighty God with his sin and transgresses against Him openly. This man will not reap wealth nor riches, he will lose all his possessions and be counted among the lowly. He will not be able to escape from darkness, even though he may see a light far off in the distance. His own mouth will condemn him for all his life, never escaping the concept that he was right in his heart. Please let him not believe in the emptiness of his argument against God, it will end in him being empty. He will never fully grow into the person he is called to be and he will be barren. There is nothing good that can come from this man and he will only give birth to evil.

I believe we can learn a lot from this passage and reflect on where we do not fear God. I know that when I sin against God I do not count it as a transgression that is truly evil. I shake it off and count it as something that is covered by grace. Well, this is true, but it is done out of deceit and evil. I do not truly trust God that He has the best plan for my life and thus I rebel. Then, after rebelling, I rarely (if ever) truly understand what it is I have done. I have sinned against God, the creator of all things, Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end, the God who calls me son, and I repay Him with rebellion? Wow. I am stupid. How dare I come before God and ask Him to forgive me of my sins when in my heart I don't fully regret them? Well, I am not pure in heart and mind, therefore I will continue to rebel and I will sin throughout the rest of my days on earth. So, to quote Paul: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?" [Romans 6:1] YES! Let's do it! … Just kidding. No, no we should not. When we grasp this concept of wanting to sinless but still show that grace is overflowing and covers our lives, we must remember that we should be wanting to grow in righteousness because it will bring us closer to God. The ultimate goal in life should be cultivating our relationship with God, sin is a barrier between us and God, therefore we should kill the sin within us every time it is noticed. Now, we will never be sinless, it is impossible. But, we can grow more and more in our relationship with God and expose all the selfish and evil things within us and seek victory over them through God's strength and ability. He is the God of all things, He can eradicate sin without even expending a single iota. The more we cry out to God and expose our sins to those close to us the better we can grow in becoming what God calls us to be, free from sin and praising His name throughout our days. Regardless of circumstance, we can always seek to glorify God, how will you do this during your week?

Dear lord, I pray that you will open the flood gates of my sin and put them on my heart. Show me where I am twisting your will into mine and expose the darkest parts of my inner self. Allow me to be free from sin which weighs me down on a daily basis. Release me from the darkness that is upon me and allow the light to encompass all parts of my life. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 14

Garden of the Gods | Colorado Springs, CO

Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All

We all have a determined amount of time on this earth and we are riddled with problems. Once we are born, there is no slowing down the time that we will have life. Our days are numbered and they do not end sooner or later than the time that God allotted for us. Thus, what is the point of worrying about life? Your days are numbered, as are mine. Why even bother to bring someone so feeble and weak into judgment? I am a sinner, I fall short, I am damned without You. I am unclean, how can something perfect be brought of imperfection? No man has ever been made perfect through imperfection. You have restricted man to a set amount of days, none can escape it. Thus, why don't you leave us alone? You are all-knowing, Alpha & Omega, why must you hound us all the days of our lives? You know what we will do with our numbered days. Let us be and allow us to live out our days and enjoy them. Look at your created nature on earth, even the trees have hope, if they are cut down they will sprout again. The roots grow deeply throughout the soil and sprout out new beginnings in the old ground. All it takes is water to fall upon it and it will cease its dying and be granted new life. Yet, your claimed greatest creation (man) dies, and what happens? He is dead and does not have life breathed into him again. Just like a river that loses its water supply, it dries up and clears lakes. Not till Heaven shall man rise again, once a man dies he is put six feet under and cannot be roused out of the deep sleep. Why don't you hide me in the darkness and keep me safe? Remember me after I die! If a man does die, will he live again? Do we know this? We could wait in the darkness forever and never be called home to your presence. Call me to do your work with my hands through your power and strength, I will answer. If I am doing your will, you number my steps and do not keep watch over my sins. All my shortcomings would be cast into the depths of the unknown and you would cover me in your purity. But, instead of this the earth groans beneath me and breaks for the pain that it endures, all hope is lost in the earth and never gained without you interceding. You thrash upon man all of his days and plot against him, you remove his uprightness and break him on the rocks, you leave him shipwrecked without a rudder, man cannot be directed in the way of right without your intervention. Parents never see their children grow into men of God nor witness their decay. Either way, we are dumb to their result. All we do is live for a determined amount of time and then die in pain. There is no joy, there is no happiness, there is merely mourning for one's self in death.

Yes, God knows all things and He has unlimited power beyond anything we can comprehend. He does not sit in waiting for anything to happen, He goes to that moment-in-time if He wishes. He scrolls through our thoughts like flipping through channels, yet He does all these things in a way that is well beyond anything we can fathom. Even thinking about the way He does things is silly, because what is the point of attempting to grasp something that is far beyond the boundaries of the human mind? It is vanity. Yes, we should seek wisdom, but we cannot achieve ultimate understanding. No, we should not worry about what tomorrow will bring because (for those who love God and call Christ King) God is drawing us closer to Him. Sometimes this looks like God blessing us with lives of grand memories and exotic tales of adventure, or it can look like suffering through many trials and tribulations that break us on the rocks as the waves crash. I ask you this, is it better to be blessed with money or blessed with sickness? Well, that sounds like a silly question, doesn't it? However, someone who is wealthy and wants for nothing may not be the most blessed person… Money, power, fame, and praise are all good things if they have the proper perspective on them. Unfortunately, most people use these things to boost their own egos and inflate their pride. If we are wealthy, and we don't have to decide on whether or not we have enough money to purchase something, it can be a bad thing. Anything that makes us lose our need for God is something that is dangerous beyond human understanding. The entire goal of life isn't about 401Ks and stock options, it is about furthering the Kingdom of Heaven by being the body of Christ here on earth. It is far easier for someone who is being humbled in illness to fall on their knees and pray to God and seek healing. There are countless opportunities to share the Gospel simply by grinding out the day-to-day activities with Joy that doesn't make sense to the outside viewer. God gives us opportunities to show others that we love Him more than we love life, how are you doing with this? Don't hear me wrong, money is not bad, it is a good thing that can be used in extraordinary ways, just do not sell your love for God for money, it is not worth it. Earth is not worth it.

Dear Lord, seek my heart and mind. Show me that you are far greater than anything on earth I seek to possess. Show me the perspective I should have with things like; money, careers, friendships, relationships, marriage, church, Bible study, rock climbing, hiking, etc. Draw me closer to you through the things that stir my affections for you. Allow me to endure in this time. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 13

Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

Pikes Peak | Colorado Springs, Colorado

Why do you believe the lie that you are better than I? Your pride runs through you like a raging river into a canyon, touching every word you utter. Of course, I know who God is and who I am to Him. Did I not tell you this already? Haven't I lived my life in a way that shows that? I don't need to defend myself before you, I will take my case straight to the Judge and dismiss this jury. Fools! You paint your stories with lies and dismiss the truth out of your own discomfort for your own lives. The greatest wisdom you could show would be to remain silent. Listen attentively to my words as I plead before God almighty. Why would you speak from God's perspective? As if you were able to know it? Will you be the accuser and speak on His behalf? Naturally, you will take God's side and be led astray, assuming God would never punish someone without them deserving it. What will happen when he starts to examine you? God won't search your words, He will search the thought behind the words, He will go to the root of where that word was formed and judge you based upon that, still, believe you can fool Him? He is not a mere man. His magnitude, His presence, His power cannot be contained nor can it be witnessed fully. Simply the gravity of His essence, which He created gravity, by the way, cannot be survived unless He allows it. Even if you could be before Him without succumbing to any of the before mentioned things, His perfection would be too much to handle. We are imperfect beings, we cannot be before our perfect creator unless He allows it. Your defenses are only that which God molds and allows you to perceive. Now that I have silence, hear me speak. I will accept whatever consequences come from my words to the Holy One. God, though you may slay me, I will hope in you. However, that does not mean I won't come to you with this argument. My salvation is not secured in being a "yes man", it is secured because I love the Lord (because He loved me first), and sometimes love has disagreements. Naturally, I will disagree with you, God, because I want to be you. I am imperfect and you are perfect, I am contained within time and space, you are not. Listen, I have prepared my argument and I know that I shall be named right in the end. Is there any among us that will contend with me? If so, I shall stay silent till the grave. Lord, please give me these two things I ask of you, then I will not hide from you. Take away your hand from me and remove the terror I have in my heart for you. Call upon me, then I will answer, or allow my words to you be heard and then respond to them, almighty God. How many are my sins? What is your count? Show me these transgressions against you. Why must you continue to hide the truth from me? Am I your enemy? You have granted me the inheritance that I earned as a child, an unwise soul who was growing in his knowledge of you, do you plan to punish me for all I did as an adolescent? You have placed limits on me and I cannot break free from them. Release me from this spell and allow me to roam freely to praise your name.

God, I bring my complaint before you as Job does. Why have you seemingly cast your hand upon my body in many ways? I am well aware of all the ways that I have sinned against you, and I don’t believe that you "gave me cancer" but I also don't fully trust your will in this. I feel as if you have left me to my own knowledge and allowed me to be wandering through this without your strength. If I am left to my own strength, I will fail. If I am left to merely my friends around me, I will pass away. If I am left only to the prayers of others, I don't trust that I will be spared, regardless of how many prayers from all corners of the world. I need you to intervene, I need you to come alongside me and show the power of You through me. I cannot survive the challenge before me, mentally or physically. It is in You that I must place my hope and trust in and at this time I don't believe you hear me. Perhaps you thought I could handle this trial? I know you say you will never give us more than we can handle, but I believe there is an asterisk with that verse, because we require YOU in those times, if left to our own merit we will perish. I request your presence, I request the sound of your voice in my ear and the guidance that only you can offer.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will guide the path before my feet and lead me in a way that leads to life. I seek the Kingdom that is here on earth, I don't yet long to be on the streets of gold. My work here is not yet complete and I long to see the growth of those around me prior to my departure. Please grant me my request. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 12

Crestone Needle | Colorado

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

Clearly, you are those wise people and all wisdom will die with you in your minds. However, I am not a mere heathen who has no understanding of God and His creation, I am not your lesser. Doesn't everyone know that God is Holy and perfect? He is the beginning and the end? Surely all know this, it is hard-wired within them. We are His creation and thus, to some degree, at our core, we understand who He is and who we are in Him. You see me as a jester, same as everyone else around me, though I cried out to God and He answered me, acknowledging that I am a just and blameless man are seen as a joke to all those around me, how is this just? If God sees me as just and blameless, why should I care about the mere mortal minds? It is easy for you to ridicule me, those who are without suffering in their lives, you who have no pain within every area of your life. This life is not treating me fairly, the sinners who serve other gods are not punished and I, who serve the one true God, being ridiculed and shamed before all around me. Ask anyone or anything. All of the creation groans and shows that the hand of the Lord has fallen upon me and is allowing these things to transpire against me. God holds all things in His hands, all things. Contemplate on that notion for a period of time, all things in the universe are under His command within His hands, only His hands. Fathom that idea. Wisdom is not something that we grasp whenever we choose to; it is something that is attained over time. What God tears down none can restore, when He has spoken it has been decided, if He decides a man is to suffer, he shall suffer. Man cannot undo what God has started. Creation cannot cease from what He put into motion before time existed. He is strength and perfect wisdom, both those who deceive others and the great deceiver, Satan, are within His control. He lifts up the fool and shuts the mouth of the kings, he overthrows the mighty without effort. He gives everything to anyone, regardless of their status. He is the reason for all things. He humbles the proud and turns the wise to fools. He brings the deepest of darkness to light merely with His voice and all sin trembles before Him. He blesses the nations and destroys them. He can make the wisest man a wretch who trembles on the ground and staggers throughout the desert in search of water.

There is no doubt in Job's mind, heart, or soul that the Lord has given him this suffering. Job cannot comprehend the "why" behind what is occurring in his life but he knows that God is in control of all things, including this. Job's rebuttal to his friend is not about defending himself but it is an explanation of the power of God and how He is not caught off guard or surprised by anything that occurs in His universe. No atom disappears without His knowledge or approval, if it happens, He put it into motion. There is no escaping this concept and humans are completely lost if they don't understand the true power of Him.

How can we relate this to our lives in 2018? Well, often we find ourselves searching for truth and attempting to understand the "why" behind something that is going on within our lives (especially suffering). Thus, we can learn from Job and his friends that we are not to just believe that God is being surprised by what is happening in our lives, but that God has a plan to restore us to glory and draw us closer and closer to Him regardless of what we must endure getting there. The finish line is being in Heaven with the Holy of Holies and knowing Him as best we can. Therefore, if we understand this concept that God works all things together for good for those who love Him, we can endure any pain, suffering, trial, tribulation, betrayal, sin, etc. because we know that God is using it for our betterment. Now, we may never see the end result, it may be for someone else. Thus, we must have faith that God is truly using ALL things (regardless of whether or not they are good or bad) for our good.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will give me the strength that only you can reflect through me. I am weak and broken, on my knees before you seeking your presence, show me who you are in a way that lifts me up. Allow me to understand you beyond my current understanding and bless me with knowledge of knowing you. Grant me a relationship with you that is not bound by my own feeble understanding but that is blessed with your wisdom. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 11

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

Crestone Needle | Colorado

I can no longer sit here and listen to this blasphemy! Do you really believe you can speak these things about God, before us, and expect nothing in return? Do you truly believe we will not call you out for your obvious sin? How dare you! Endless you go on and on about how much you are suffering, you haven't even started to suffer in the way you deserve. You tell us that you are wise and pure yet God is punishing you, clearly, you have sinned against Him. You are under the false pride that you are clean in the eyes of God, HA! Oh, yes, Almighty God, please open your lips to Job and show Him how "clean" he is in your eyes. Tell him your secrets of Wisdom and unlock his mind to a whole new understanding. PAH. Don't you know that God is giving you less than you deserve? You know nothing, Job. None can discover the depths of God, none can see His limits because they are endless. His measure of wisdom is beyond our own comprehension, outside the bounds of time and space, not restricted in any sense of the word. If God says someone is guilty, they are guilty, who can escape the creator of the prison, land, country, earth, heavens? He is the judge of all judges and cannot escape justness for it is Him. God knows stupid men and He does not always keep them from their iniquity. He allows them to suffer. You are stupid, Job, and you will not receive understanding unless the very fabric of creation is tampered with and queer things are beheld. Why can't you just prepare your heart and soul and seek Him out? Wash your hands clean of your sins, sacrifice on the altar and allow Him to know you are seeking redemption. Do not even think in a way that is full of injustice. Then, and only then, will you be able to face Him without blemish and He will accept you for what you are. You won't have to fear God once you have cleansed your heart of all impurity. You will be able to forget all of your pain and misery, it will be behind you and only a memory. You will have a light within you that will never go out, brighter than the noonday sun. You will feel safe again because you have hope, unlike now. You will sleep well knowing that you are secure. However, if you continue to have these eyes of wickedness which look at me, you will fail. If this is the case, you should allow yourself to die because death is your only hope. Life is not worth living. Zophar believes that God only punishes those who have sinned against Him. He is under the very popular theory, especially in the time he lived, that good things happen to those in a way that is honoring to God (or gods). Bad things only happen to those who defy God (or gods). It is the concept that we all obey to some level, we want to do good things because we want good things to happen to us. Example: If I lived in this time period, I would be accused of having done unthinkable things, because I have Stage IVb Metastatic Melanoma and have very little chance of living longer than 12-18 months, clearly, I have sinned against God in ways that few people ever do. People would leave me for death and curse me, I would be a bane to society and unfit to be a friend to anyone, lower than cattle in any regard. Unfortunately, we haven't really fallen away from this idea entirely. We still base a majority of our lives on the concept of earning grace or blessings. We strive for excellence in a lot of things that are meaningless without the proper perspective wrapped around them.

• Career? Irrelevant in the grand scheme of eternity.
• Spouse? Pointless unless they spur us towards the cross and reminds us of our calling to be brothers and sisters in Christ to everyone.
• Children? A big distraction that can steal our time away from God if we don't place them into their proper role.
• Money? Easily the worst distraction from who God is and how He cares for us.

Now, put these things into proper perspective:

• Career? A way to honor God in the workplace and shine the light of the Gospel in a way that exudes love.
• Spouse? An unbelievably excellent example of how we can share love in a way that honors God. A marriage marked by trusting God in all things.
• Children? Souls, we can raise that one day to choose to give their lives into the hands of God and trust His will more than their own.
• Money? We can use our money to bless those less fortunate than ourselves and spread the Gospel through the example of giving wildly.

God isn't waiting to strike us when we disobey His law, He gave us the law to show us that we cannot obey it perfectly and fall on our knees and seek His grace, which He freely gives us. God does not give karma any breath.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will continue to give me the proper perspective in life. Draw us towards you so that we might be the best people we can be within a world of sin. Allow us not to seek comfort but to seek righteousness. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 10

Job Continues: A Plea to God

Garden of the gods | Colorado Springs, CO

I have been reading Job 10 for almost a month now. I have been avoiding writing about it for the fear that I too have become very bitter in my heart towards God. The beauty of being openly angry with God shows that we are being open and honest with Him - we should know that being angry at God merely shows our lack of trust in Him, He is therefore I can be, He is everything and knows everything - thus we know we can always trust Him because He knows all things, created all things, so on and so forth.

I hate everything that is happening. My complaints are justified and I do not deserve the life that has transpired during this most recent time in my life. Not only do I feel this bitterness in my soul, not only does it show through my body and mind but I will speak it loudly. Do not continue to turn away from me, tell me why you are angry towards me. Are these things good that you have allowed? You have only turned your work, that is me and my family, and how we reflected the light of your holiness, into a mockery of life. We are broken and dead. Wandering this life naked and afraid, unaware of the transgression's backbone and the why behind it all. Why are you favoring the ways of the wicked? Are you not the Holy God? Alpha and Omega? Or do you see as man sees only with eyes of flesh? Aren't you the one who created all things? Why do you search the days of my life and find the sin which I have repented of as I am called to do? In your hands I was molded and created - by the work of your hands I am now destroyed, how is this glorifying you? You built me cell by cell, bone by bone, muscle by muscle, you allowed my heart to beat and pump the blood through my veins, you keep every synapse in my brain functioning and give me the pure feeling of emotion, you created the earth and asked me to cultivate it for your glory, you gave me life and showed me your steadfast love, until now. Now, you hide from me, you are always watching for me to sin and then you do not forgive me for my absent thought of you and future glory. I cannot escape my sin, it is at the forefront of my mind, why do you allow it to weigh on me so? Even if I were to lift my head and press on you would hunt me down and remind me of how I have failed. You are constantly reloading your ammunition and shooting me down, you find new things to charge me with daily, you renew your vengeance in the night as I try to lay my head down.

Why did you even allow me to be born? I would rather never have existed, I long to have died in the womb and never be seen. Aren't my days few in your eyes? Do you not see my whole life played out before you without time? If this is true, leave me alone! Allow me to die in peace and the slightest bit of cheer knowing that you are no longing to bring grief upon me. The land of darkness is upon me and I cannot escape it. Let me be, that I might find solace in the fact that I am out of your gripping hands of death.

Well, Job… I must admit that I cannot fully comprehend these words you write or how bold you were to say such things to God. I am a coward, I cannot speak these words to God, I can only hide them in my heart and mind while I falsely speak of Faith in Him during my trials. It is something that I can cry out to Him in the darkness of my enduring through this trial, but it isn't as honest as your words. The reality is that I cannot call God out for fear of Him due to my doubt of His sovereign grace. I do not fully believe that I am forgiven for my sins, thus I believe performance is key to my salvation, this is false and should be seen as such. However, my mind, heart, and soul are not on the same page with this idea. I could sit here and type out that I fully trust and believe your plan is the best one for me, but I don't. I do not fully trust you with my life and the current circumstances reveal that in my heart.

Dear Lord, restore the bitterness of my heart and turn my eyes to the truth that all things will work together for my good and your glory. Show me but a glimpse of the future glory that is in store for me, whether it is on earth or in Heaven. Reveal to me the enormity of your son's death on the cross and how it saves my soul which is shipwrecked without hope outside of Him. Ensure in my soul the saving grace and restore my mind to you. Allow me to enter your presence daily with the ratification that you are my Father. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 9

Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter

Old Rag Mountain

How can any man be right before God? It is impossible. We cannot even come remotely close, the idea is ludicrous. We cannot answer God. Do you know anyone who has ever hardened their heart towards God, turned from Him, and succeeded in beating God? Even Satan must bow before the Lord and ask permission to do all things. We are weak and frail beings, Satan was once an angel. God is the creator of all things. He is the controller of all things. If he tells the sun not to rise, it obeys. If he wants the stars to cease shining, they do. Merely with His voice set into motion the universe that to this day continues to expand in all directions. He set the current all of the seas, rivers, and oceans. He placed the stars in the sky in a particular fashion so we might discover the Bear, Orion, Pleiades, and Proxima Centauri. We will never know all of the great things He has done and we cannot fathom the countless marvelous wonders He has created. However, God passes by me and I do not see Him. He moves past me but I cannot perceive His presence. I know He is there but I miss knowing Him like I did before.

How can man understand God? We cannot understand Him fully, nor can we understand Him to a great extent. Some of the wisest men throughout history, who had the closest relationships with God, still find themselves saying things like: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" [Psalm 22:1] and the list goes on with Moses, Abraham, Peter, etc. all of these great men who had extremely close relationships with God all questioned Him many times. In order to question God, we must believe that we are equal to Him in some way. We only question those who we believe are wrong in what they are saying, doing, etc. Therefore, if we question God, we believe that He is wrong about something. Now, it is quite the leap for us to say: "I know better than God." and very few people would ever actually say those words in a serious manner. However, we live our lives and make a lot of decisions based off the concept that we do know better than God. Aren't these the same? We're just prideful cowards who don't want to say something blasphemous like: "I know better than God." We prefer to hide our sin under the shroud of other things. When Adam and Eve chose to eat from the forbidden tree, they believed the lie that God was not trustworthy and they chose to disobey out of pride in who they thought they were. When I chose to watch pornography and dilute my mind with terrible images of something that is supposed to be beautiful but turned wretched I was saying: "God, I know you tell me I shouldn't do this, but I know better than you." This led to me lying about never watching pornography to my girlfriend at the time, which led to more lies, which led to a failed engagement, which culminated with me in counseling and that relationship beyond reconciliation. Now, God used this betrayal of mine for far greater things than I could ever have imagined. He drew me closer to Him, He helped me receive professional help (which in my mind is the ONLY way to overcome an addiction like pornography - I am now almost 4 years clean - thank you to my counselor | yes, it is awkward at first and yes it isn't easy to admit to others but it is necessary. I think of my future wife, whoever she may be, and the impact that my choices earlier in life will affect her. Deal with your junk as soon as you can, your future spouse will admire you for it.) and I was able to restore my relationship with God and serve Him more than ever. God uses these betrayals for His good if we allow Him to do so. It is not fun, there is nothing exciting about the process, there is a lot of pain and admission of things that most people cannot utter before another human, and it costs a lot of people a lot of heartaches. I went against God and I failed. But, through His grace and mercy, He restored me to Himself. Job is currently battling against his biggest foe and he cannot find God in the midst of his pain and sorrow. Just like Job, I did not fully understand God's will or why He allowed things to happen to me at the moment, but with hindsight and many years of looking back at the events that have transpired, He was allowing traumatic things to occur in order to draw me closer to Him before my biggest battle that is ongoing right now against terminal cancer. I would be lost and could not survive if He hadn't trained me for this thorn in the flesh. Yes, it is hard to continually admit to others that you have had struggles in the past, current and that you will struggle with sin in the future. But, you can overcome some things if you rely on God's strength to overcome them and not your own. Seek counseling, seek wisdom from others, seek help, seek friends who truly love you and can give you an honest conversation of where they see you. This is the only way I was able to overcome porn and it is the only way I will overcome any sin in my life, through God's never-ending pursuit of my heart and allowing Him to make me more like Christ and less like Jordan.

Dear Lord, thank you for your overwhelming kindness and grace to me and all my fellow human beings. We are not worthy of your grace, but I accept it with honor. I wish I could be a better image of your grace towards others in all moments. My shortcomings far outweigh my excellence, but you restore me to you and see Christ in my stead. Thank you for the gift of your son and the never-ending wonders of your creation. You stir my affections for you through many natural wonders and I cannot say thank you enough for who You are. Teach me to be a loving, kind, and honest friend. Teach me, starting now, how to love my future wife in ways that exude your grace and love. Show me who you are more and more, that I might be more like you. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 8

Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent:

The Green Dragon | The Shire

Eliphaz has no clue of what God truly is nor does he understand the Gospel. He is a man who sees only works and no faith. He believes that Jobs's children were living in sin and were not honoring God, therefore He struck them from the earth. Perhaps God makes mistakes? Who knows. But, you must believe that God is punishing you either for your sins or your children's sins. Either way, God required a sacrifice and now you must seek His forgiveness and actually seek Him. Why aren't you "truly" seeking Christ? Clearly, you must have been playing us all these years and weren't truly living a life that was honoring to God. Plead for mercy, if you are pure and justified, He will forgive you and restore you to the wealthy man that you were before. Stop lying in the dirt like a bum and restore your former glory. You have to earn God's love by seeking Him out, He doesn't give it freely. You must feed your relationship with God, it is a give and takes relationship. God will not accept an evildoer as yourself, you must be blameless before Him. If you rebuke your sins before the almighty God then He will fill you with joy and overflowing happiness. He will shame those who hate you and will bring them to death.

Wow. Perhaps my interpretation of Job 8 is off but Bildad has a very worldly view of God. He believes that God is a performance-type god who will weigh all of the good you do on a scale versus all of the bad. If this is the case, we are all going to hell and have no chance of experiencing the wonderful presence of God in Heaven. We are condemned to a life of sin and will never escape the bonds that hold us down. This isn't the Gospel? This is blasphemous! Our God is the God of perfect love. He cannot accept sin, but He accepts Faith in Him. (Reminder: This is the pre-Christ era.) Job has the understanding that Faith without works is dead and works cannot exist without Faith. Faith will drive works into your life if you believe in who God is and your faith will be fueled by the works you perform through God's love for you. We are meaningless without God, not only are we meaningless, but we wouldn't exist. Bildad is mocking Job because he believes that Job has been lying his entire life, either his children aren't who he has professed them to be, or Job himself has been putting on a façade his entire life. God wouldn't be allowing these things to happen unless you owed him for the sins you have committed - this is the idea Bildad is sharing with Job. He is accusing him of living a life of sin. If God punished us for every sin we committed against Him, we would never stop cease being punished. God is not sitting in Heaven watching us and waiting for us to sin and then strike us with boils. God is gracious, and he is a loving Father who wants what is best for us in all scenarios. He doesn't need us to proclaim His gospel, He allows us to be a part of the story. He can choose to ensure everything goes the way He wants, but He offers us free will and the choice to decide whether or not we live our days for Him or for ourselves. Yes, God knows all things and I believe He knows who will choose to follow Him because he is not constrained to time - He doesn't wait for things to happen, they are - and all things are before Him. There are no surprises to God. Yes, He will allow bad things to occur in our lives, but He sees all things and knows how they will play out. This is where we must rely on Faith.

 Dear lord, there are many things that we do not understand about you. You are above and beyond anything we can imagine or even fathom. You created all things with your voice, that is enough to have us thinking for the rest of our lives. Thank you for sending your son and honoring our Faith in Him and You. We do not deserve your love or grace. I believe in your word, but it is hard to decipher at times, grant me wisdom to read the Bible and understand it in order to be able to benefit others. Amen. 

 All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapters 6-7

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

Shenandoah National Park | Virginia 

Job has this very human idea that if God were to balance out the good vs. bad in his life that he would come out on the good side. He believes, falsely, that he could save himself as it were. This is an unfortunate idea that I believe we all get caught in at one time or another. Pride sets in and we believe that we don't deserve the turmoil we may endure. How dare I accuse God of what I have endured because of Him? How dare you accuse me of not suffering, I am stuck in a daily vicious circle of never-ending pain. God has chosen me to be punished by Satan and He has struck me with many arrows. All are stacked against me and I cannot overcome it. Am I better than the animals who moan when the fields fail to yield? I only ask for one thing from God and He refuses it from me. I ask that He would crush me and cut me off - allow me to perish. What is the point of me going on anymore? Does this glorify God? I cannot endure, I am not made of stone but of flesh, flesh that is born into sin and cannot overcome it. God is my strength and power but He has turned away from me. My friends come to try and help me but they do not, they only turn away in the harshest of times and tell me that I should do that which cannot be done. You've seen my treachery and have turned away from me, yet I requested nothing from you. Show me what I have done to offend you and I will be quiet. Do not turn away from me but listen and face me, I ask only to know the reason for this betrayal. Do you believe I cannot handle the truth about why I am being punished?

My Life Has No Hope:

We are all confined to our time on earth and all of us are faced with hardship in some form or fashion. Why must I be this way, constrained to the suffering that is before I laid empty on the ground with no rest? My nights are long and void of meaning, for tomorrow will come and I will awake to my same circumstance. My body is broken and riddled with disease, all throughout the day I have no hope in life, I can no longer see any good, it is gone from me. My perspective is shattered and I only hold on to bitterness in my soul. None who see me know me, I am but a beggar on the street corner with nothing to offer, only to be pitied. Even as I try to find comfort in my bed you give me nightmares of what is to come, visions of pain and suffering. I cannot stand my life or lack thereof and I would ask you to leave me alone, be gone from my side. What is it about me that you find intriguing? Why did you choose me to punish? Why am I tested every day? Why don't you forgive me and allow me to leave in peace? I am to be left on earth and you will not find me. 

Job is very lost in his trial, who can blame him? He is confounded as to why God is punishing him and cannot find an answer. His friends, attempting to help, are trying to show Job that God does love him. Unfortunately, it is not working. Job has grown very bitter throughout his circumstances and seeks to flee from it all. He longs to be dead and wishes that it would come swiftly. I cannot comprehend what Job has endured, however, as someone who was diagnosed with Stage IVb Metastatic Melanoma over 2 months ago, there is an understanding of the physical pain and psychological game that goes on within me. It is challenging to focus on God's love for me when I feel that I don't deserve the current trial, haven't I gone through enough? I feel a lot like David when he cries out to God in the Psalms asking: why have I been forsaken by you? It isn't fair that a 27-year-old who is in extremely good shape and overall health is enduring something terminal like this disease. However, realizing that everything I have ever had is God's, I understand that I don't deserve anything better than death. My life is a gift because I was born into sin and given no hope of reaching Heaven if not for the cross and Christ dying on it. I was a slave to my sin, bound to a life of serving my sin, shackles had me tied to a cross of pride that wouldn't let go, without the Grace of God I would never be in His presence. That is more than enough and way more than I deserve.

Dear lord, sin entered this world when Adam and Eve chose to ignore your commands and become deceitful. I know that I am no better than any other man and require the full punishment of my sin. Thank you for sending Christ to save me and all others who place their faith in You. There are many who remain lost around me, I pray that you will grant me the wisdom and courage to show them your love. I have been given a thorn in the flesh that gives me an opportunity to show your love on a grand scale due to the severity of my disease. Show me how to do this well. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapters 4-5

Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper:

Cheyenne Canyon | Colorado Springs, CO [Isaac, myself & Joe]

Eliphaz was one of Job's close friends came to see him. He is responding to what Job said in Chapter 3 where he laments his birth. He replies with a lot of humility and asks whether or not he will listen with patience to his words. Eliphaz reminds Job of all the things that he has done for others who have gone through trials and tribulations, how Job reminds others of God's love for them and how they must remain patient with God. Eliphaz calls Job out for being impatient and not trusting God in his trials. He reminds Job of the confidence that he had in God and that his hope should be found in Him. He encourages Job to press on in faith and integrity for the Lord because those who sow trouble reap the same.

Spirits Vision:

Eliphaz was visited by a spirit in the night who came with a voice: "Can mortal man be in the right before God?" this spirit, presumed angel from God, speaks throughout the next 32 verses [Job 4: 17-21 & Job 5: 1-27] and reveals that no man can be pure before the God of Heaven. Even the angels are charged with an error along with His servants. If they are subject to discipline, how much more would those who are earthly sinners be found in error? Surely the wisest man who walks the earth pales in comparison to those who are angels in Heaven. The foundation of the man is built on houses of clay and is easily crushed. Whom will you turn to in these dark times? Will you seek darkness or light? Only the fool sits in vexation and disregards the truth that is found in God. Man is born into trouble, ever since the fall, and it is not the earth that gives man trouble, man gives man trouble. Commit yourself to God and dwell on His holiness. He does great things that are above and beyond anything you can imagine, wonders that are undefined by human experience. He makes rainfall on the earth, He sends water to your fields, He lifts those who are low, He gives safety to the mourners. He protects against the crafty and catches the wise who are due to create evil. He saves the needy from their own tongues. Blessed is the man who God disciplines! He will bless you with the riches of life and old age and peace shall come. Hear me and know that it is good.

Richmond, VA | [Myself & Ryan]

What an incredible friendship! Picture yourself being confronted by a friend, has it ever looked like this? Ever? I can say that I am privileged to have friends like this in my life; Isaac, Ryan, and Joe. People who know what is best for me and will come in humility and love to show me the errors in my ways. This is a blessing beyond measure. It is vitally important to build friendships that are consistent with the Gospel and exude love in the toughest situations. This is something that Job has in his friends and it is critical during times like these. Thankfully, God is in control of all things and if we always seek His guidance prior to seeking to be right, things will be better. One of my favorite quotes: "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” - C.S. Lewis

Dear lord, it is hard for us to imagine trials and tribulations until we are knee-deep in them. We do not tend to think about pain until it arrives. During these times of strain we fall on our knees and seek your healing and praise your name, Lord, we do not deserve you. I know that I haven't always come to you daily until something bad occurs. Create in me a heart of faithfulness to you regardless of the situation. Thank you for the blessing of friendship you have given me through my closest friends. Amen.

All images © 2015 - 2021 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 3

Job Laments His Birth:

Shelf Road | Canon City, Colorado

Imagine all of the turmoil and heartache that Job has just endured and envision how you would react to it all. Job begins to passionately grieve about the beginning of his life and question why he was ever born if he was only meant to suffer this way? Again, there is no comparable situation I have ever heard of in relation to what Job has endured thus far. He asks for the sun to stop shining on the day of his birth, he calls for Leviathan (a great sea monster) to lay waste to it, he asks that he had never been born, questioning why he wasn't a stillborn child in the womb of his mother.

Job is crying out to God and questioning why He has allowed all of this to transpire, which is perfectly fine. I believe that crying out to God, much like David does throughout the Psalms, is perfectly natural. We don't know the full plans that He has in store, therefore we shouldn't always be at perfect peace with what transpires. Example: I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma (Very low % chance of surviving due to the size/location of the tumors and how they have metastasized) and I have had many passionate outbursts with God in terms of the why behind it all. However, it isn't my job to try and endure it on my own, I am supposed to come to Him with it and plead for healing and answers. God is a God of mercy, but that does not mean we will not have heartbreak. God is perfect and just, which means sin will affect us all during our time on earth because we broke the world. He cannot just allow sin to permeate man and disregard it, the price must be paid. Thankfully, Christ came and did what we could not, but the world wasn't healed from sin, man was given the chance to accept Christ's gift and be able to stand before the throne of God blameless because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Job's worst fears came true (and I presume the worst fear of any father) and he is unable to cope with them in silence. He wonders why those who are bitter are given light, the Holy Spirit within them, if they are only to live bitterly in their soul. What is the point? Job is seeking death and wants it to find him but it eludes Job and he feels like he has been boxed into a world of sin. There is no escaping, He is yearning to be home in Heaven with his maker and longs for the safety of being alongside His father. He feels that his way is hidden before him and he doesn't know where to go. He used to be a man who was overjoyed and abounded in love, now his sighing is more prevalent than his praises and he groans when he awakes to another day. He can no longer rest because he feels entrapped within a terrible dream that never ends.

Dear Lord, there are many things that I can request of you at this current time in life. In the end, the thing I seek most is to be a better man at the end of all of this, regardless of the outcome. I have come to the realization that I am doing everything I can to reverse this terrible disease, but I cannot control the outcome. I am bound to a future of uncertainty and I don't know how to handle it at times. There are fears within me that are selfish and earthly, I seek life more than I seek you at times, I know that I am loved by you, but I don't always feel that way. Remind me of who you are and who I am to you. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2018 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 2

Satan Attacks Job's Health:

Sunset in Westcliffe, Colorado

The next step in this process of dismantling Job came when Satan reported before God and God reminded him that Job has been holding fast to his integrity, despite all the evil that had befallen him. Satan uses excuses and believes that if he is allowed to mess with body flesh and bone that he will curse God. The Lord responded by stating that Job was in his hands, but he cannot kill him.

Satan left the presence of the Lord prior to striking Job with sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Significant that he did nothing while in the presence of the Lord, I presume for fear of the Lord. It is hard to imagine Satan had to go before God and report what he has been doing, but it is another reminder that Satan is a little groveling twerp in comparison to the almighty God. Job sat in ashes and scraped himself with broken pottery in order to remove the sores that riddled his body. Do not forget that Job had been living a life of luxury prior to all of these events, he was: "The Greatest People of All the East." He was not used to suffering nor having any of the common man's issues. Sores are something that would happen to those who could not afford to have a bath or cleanse their body from filth, it was a disease that rich people would not carry. Not a lot is mentioned about Job's wife to this point, unfortunately, she ends up turning very bitter towards God and lashes out at her husband commanding him to curse God and die. It is understandable that she would be bitter towards God, she has lost 10 children and has seen her husband suffer in multiple ways including now his health. She has a pompous statement that reflects her heart at this moment. It is a human problem and dare I say my reaction would probably be very similar if I were in her sandals at this moment. She has the earthly mindset of believing that what happens on earth is the only time that matters. Job responds to his wife with a reminder of who God is and who she is in God. He is harsh, yet his words carry a lot of weight. He knows his wife is not foolish but she has made a foolish remark. He reminds her that they have been extremely blessed by God throughout the years and now they are receiving what we as humans brought upon ourselves with the fall - sin. Sin corrupts all things on earth and it cannot be overstated.

Job's three closest friends heard of his tragedy and like all great friends came to see him in order to comfort him and show him sympathy. They were unable to recognize their friend and cried out then wept. When I picture myself in this scenario I picture the morning that I went to see my lifelong best friend Ryan whose father had passed away rather suddenly from leukemia. There are no words that can comfort in a situation of ultimate grief, no Bible verses that can cure a broken heart, there is nothing you can do outside of being present and grieving alongside those you love for the brokenness of the world. These friends of Job tore their robes and covered themselves with dirt in order to be alongside their friend - who at this point was essentially sitting amongst the garbage and ashes of pain, picture a homeless person that is riddled with disease and laying in a pile of garbage - and hopefully help him feel better about the predicament. This is an incredible gesture by his friends, they don't come and try to clean him up and fix the situation. They realize that their friend needs to be comforted in a different way, a humbling way. So they put themselves in the muck and the mud and endure a week of silence in the ashes to show Job that they love him in his time of extreme suffering. How can we come alongside one another in suffering?

Dear Lord, there are many trials that we must face here on earth. I pray that you would grant us the perspective that will endure us through these tribulations and that we would turn our hearts towards you in these times.  A lot of suffering is seen as inconvenient or a curse, but you use suffering to give us the ultimate gift, you. Allow ourselves to see your face in all things, whether good or bad and give us the strength to be thankful for all things. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2018 Jordan Tackett

Job: Chapter 1

Somewhere between Colorado & Virginia 

Job's Character & Wealth:

Job was a very wealthy man who was a very prosperous farmer who had cultivated many things from hard work. He was titled "The Greatest Man in the East." Job was a man of God who was seen as such and everyone who knew him saw his desire to honor God. He was blessed by God and his possessions were many. He had Faith, wealth, family, and all of them experienced a very full and giving life. All ten of his children were enjoying their splendor in joy and needed for nothing, Job had taught them all well. Go back to my previous posts in Ecclesiastes in reference to Solomon's possessions and wealth, both of these men had everything they could possess, but Job had a soul-to-soul connection with his wife and loved one woman dearly, this gave Job an even bigger stake in life here on earth.  He also had a God-fearing family and had been blessed with 10 children.

Satan came before God and was asked if he had considered Job and His blamelessness and uprightness before the Lord. Satan responded by insinuating Job was only faithful because God had blessed him beyond comprehension. Satan predicts that Job will curse God's name if he loses his possessions. God placed parameters on what Satan could do to Job, he wasn't allowed to harm his body. This is a very intriguing set of verses because we see a couple of important things. Satan, the ruler of hell and the doer of all evil, is restricted by God. Without God's permission, Satan is very much powerless. This is a comforting and unsettling thing at the same time. God is perfect in all things, He is love, He is truth, He is all that ever was, is, and will ever be, He is omnipresent. Yet, He allows Satan to tempt us? If our Father is allowing Satan to tempt us, does He have our best interest in mind? Ironically, coming from a mindset of thinking all things that are good should be easy, He allows us to be hurt because it will draw us closer to Him, in some circumstances. The mission isn't that we will live a life that is easy, the mission is to make disciples of men. We are told that we are not meant for this world and all of it groans for the new world because of the sin we brought into the world. We corrupted the earth and we deserve the consequences, enter Jesus Christ, who was sent by God to save us from our ultimate consequence of eternal damnation from God. He is the only way we can experience life. Otherwise, we are doomed to a life that is meaningless in the grand scheme of time. Yes, you can have meaning outside of Christ, but it has a sandglass attached to it because it will end in time. God's love is never-ending and we will live in Heaven for the rest of eternity enjoying the fruits of Christ's sacrifice for us and experience life much like the Garden of Eden in Genesis.

Job has the worst day anybody has ever had in the history of humanity. The dominoes begin to fall: all 500 of his oxen and 500 donkeys were killed by the Sabeans along with his servants, the fire of God fell upon all 7,000 of his sheep and killed them as well as his shepherds, the Chaldeans raided and killed all 3,000 of his camels as well as his servants, lastly, all 10 of your children were killed in the house of your oldest son because a great wind brought the house down upon them. What would you do if this was all announced to you by your servants within a few minutes of time? No one experiences grief like this in such a short period of time, most people never experience this much tragedy in our entire lifetimes, or even in multiple generations throughout our family. It isn't imaginable, just picture the greatest tragedy you have experienced (if you have experienced something terrible) and take an honest approach to how you felt in that moment. I presume, if you are anything like myself, you can learn from Job's response and attempt to have the perspective he has. Job immediately tore his robes, shaved his head, and begins to praise God and bless His name. What? How? Because Job had a perspective of understanding everything he has was a gift from God and it is all His, Job knew he was a caretaker of the things he had been given. Job 1:22 - "In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."

Dear Lord, I pray that you will comfort me in my times of stress. Draw me closer to you and enable me to react like Job when I am going through awful things. There are many things I believe I need in life, comfort, health, money, a spouse, children, career, etc. yet in my heart of hearts I know I only need you, create in me that foundation on a daily basis. Remind me of your grace. Amen. 

All images © 2015 - 2018 Jordan Tackett