While it is certainly true that we did not have a choice to exist before we were born, we do have a choice to exist after we are born (Isaiah 7:14-16). In the Old Testament, Job asked the following question about his existence: “Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? (Job 3:11). Because of his tremendous grief and anguish caused by his suffering, Job declared, “Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it” (Job 3:3-4). After further thought and reflection, however, Job declared (with a more positive attitude), “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him…..” (Job 13:15).
As you read the book of Job, you will see that God allowed Job to suffer at the hand of Satan to prove his allegiance to Him (Job 2:1-7). Our suffering is not only designed to prove our allegiance to God, but to motivate us to do His will (1 Peter 1:5-9; Matthew 7:21). The Psalmist tells us that affliction turned him to God and His word (Psalm 119:67,71). It is not what we meet in life, but how we meet it that counts eternally (James 1:2-4,12). Suffering keeps us from becoming satisfied with this sinful world and causes us to long for a better home, “an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1; cf. Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Hebrews 11:10; 1 Peter 1:3-7). After Job endured great affliction, humbled himself and repented of his lack of trust in the Lord (Job 42:1-6), the Lord “gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). The Lord will also richly bless us beyond our wildest imagination, if we are willing to obey and remain faithful to Him (Romans 6:17; Hebrews 5:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 2:10).
God is not looking for people who want the easy way out. He wants us to be holy and live for Him in this life so that He can bless us with eternal life (1 John 2:25). While it is true that this life is not always a bed of roses, a faithful life in obedience to God will all be worth it all by and by (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Instead of questioning God’s reasoning for putting you and I here upon the earth, we need to humbly be willing to plead for His mercy and forgiveness (Luke 18:13-14). We need to know that God not only loves us with a matchless love (John 3:16; Romans 5:8), but desires “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Dear reader, won’t you please consider doing just that? You’ll be glad you did.
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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