Things Are Not as They Appear

I've heard that one of John Eldredge's three principles of life is "Things Are Not as They Appear". I believe he's right. If someone begins to tell you they've got it all figured out...RUN! That person is lying to you. They may share with you what their experience has been or how they assume things are or even how they wish things were...but things on this earth are seldom as they appear.

The entire book of Job reminds us of this. We get the inside look at things as they really are. God gives us a glimpse into heaven. It's almost humorous when you have the inside spiritual scoop on what is really happening to Job...and than listen to his 'friends' as they give their interpretations as to why these calamities are happening to Job. Basically there take is...if things are going badly...someone has sinned. No one would have guessed it was friendly wager between God and Satan. That certainly didn't fit into the theology of the day. No one would have come up with that conclusion. Someone, quick, put God back in the box things are getting out of control here.

Job does land on one thing we can know for sure. It's recorded in Job 16:19, "Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high” Job clings to this even in his calamity. God is on our side. This world may be a horrible place to live at times...but that doesn't mean God isn't on our side. God is for us. God is for you. Don't give up. Things change. And in the meantime remember...God is on your side.