This podcast episode addresses profound questions surrounding faith and suffering, drawing insights primarily from the Book of Job. We explore critical inquiries such as the fate of individuals who have never heard of Jesus, the reasons behind the suffering of innocent people, and how we can support those in distress. We emphasize that God’s fairness and involvement extend beyond our understanding, highlighting that spiritual warfare and divine purposes often operate behind the scenes. Through our discussion, we affirm the importance of maintaining an eternal perspective and offering genuine support to those who suffer. Ultimately, we remind ourselves that God's plans encompass all humanity, revealing His love and justice in ways we might not immediately comprehend. This podcast episode addresses three significant questions related to faith and suffering: What about people who have never heard of Jesus? Why do innocent people suffer? And how can we help those who are suffering? We explore how the Book of Job contributes to our understanding of these profound issues. Job, a character outside of the chosen people, exemplifies a life of faith and righteousness while enduring immense suffering. As we discuss these questions, we emphasize the importance of trusting God’s overarching plan and our responsibility to support others in their struggles, all while recognizing that our understanding of God’s workings may be limited. Through this exploration, we seek to provide clarity and encouragement for navigating life's challenges. This podcast episode addresses three significant questions related to faith and suffering: What about people who have never heard of Jesus? Why do innocent people suffer? And how can we help those who are suffering? We explore how the Book of Job contributes to our understanding of these profound issues. Job, a character outside of the chosen people, exemplifies a life of faith and righteousness while enduring immense suffering. As we discuss these questions, we emphasize the importance of trusting God’s overarching plan and our responsibility to support others in their struggles, all while recognizing that our understanding of God’s workings may be limited. Through this exploration, we seek to provide clarity and encouragement for navigating life's challenges. This episode addresses profound questions regarding faith and suffering, particularly focusing on the issue of what happens to those who have never heard of Jesus. We explore how the Book of Job provides insights into these concerns, emphasizing that God’s interest extends beyond the chosen people to all humanity. We also delve into the uncomfortable reality of innocent suffering, highlighting that it does not reflect a transactional relationship with God. Throughout the discussion, we emphasize the importance of maintaining an eternal perspective and the need for kindness and support for those who are suffering. Ultimately, we aim to remind listeners that while we may not always understand suffering, God is always in control and has a plan for each person.

Takeaways:

1. This podcast episode discusses the importance of understanding God's involvement in the lives of those who have never heard of Jesus, emphasizing that God works beyond our knowledge.
2. We explore the question of why innocent people suffer, highlighting that suffering can be part of a larger divine plan that we may not fully comprehend.
3. The episode encourages listeners to engage with missionaries and support evangelism efforts, stressing the importance of sharing the message of Jesus with others.
4. We are reminded that God does not operate on a transactional basis, and our obedience does not guarantee specific outcomes in our lives.
5. The discussion includes how Job's story reveals that suffering is sometimes beyond human understanding and can be a part of spiritual warfare.
6. Finally, we learn that kindness and support for those who are suffering is crucial, and we should offer them an eternal perspective rather than a transactional view of faith.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. Bible805
2. Bible805.com
3. Bible805 YouTube channel
4. Christianity Explored

Takeaways:

1. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and thematic context of the Bible's teachings, particularly in relation to Job's story.
2. Listeners are encouraged to consider the complexities of suffering, particularly innocent suffering, and how it fits into God's larger plan for humanity.
3. The discussion raises critical questions about the fate of those who have never heard of Jesus, emphasizing God's sovereignty and grace in these circumstances.
4. The speakers highlight the need for kindness and understanding when helping those who are suffering, rather than adopting a transactional approach to faith.
5. The episode underscores that the Christian walk involves trials and struggles, which are often part of spiritual growth and maturity.
6. Finally, the speakers remind us that God works for the good of those who love Him, even amidst suffering and uncertainty.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. Bible805
2. Bible805 YouTube channel
3. Christianity Explored
4. Story of the Bible is Good News

Takeaways:

1. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and thematic context of the Bible's teachings, particularly in relation to Job's story.
2. Listeners are encouraged to consider the complexities of suffering, particularly innocent suffering, and how it fits into God's larger plan for humanity.
3. The discussion raises critical questions about the fate of those who have never heard of Jesus, emphasizing God's sovereignty and grace in these circumstances.
4. The speakers highlight the need for kindness and understanding when helping those who are suffering, rather than adopting a transactional approach to faith.
5. The episode underscores that the Christian walk involves trials and struggles, which are often part of spiritual growth and maturity.
6. Finally, the speakers remind us that God works for the good of those who love Him, even amidst suffering and uncertainty.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. Bible805
2. Bible805 YouTube channel
3. Christianity Explored
4. Story of the Bible is Good News

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. Bible 805
2. Christianity Explored

Takeaways:

1. This podcast provides a thematic commentary on the Bible that encourages thoughtful engagement with scripture.
2. We discuss significant questions regarding faith, such as the fate of those who haven't heard of Jesus.
3. The Book of Job offers insights into the nature of suffering and God's justice in the world.
4. Understanding that God is involved in the lives of all people, even outside the Jewish narrative, is crucial to our faith.
5. The podcast emphasizes that our relationship with God is not transactional, and we must trust Him beyond our circumstances.
6. Practical suggestions for helping those who suffer include being kind, honest, and sharing an eternal perspective.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. bible805
2. bible805 youtube channel
3. bible 804

Today our lesson is Week Three of Genesis and Job Answers to the Big Questions of Life Here are the questions we're going to be looking at today.

First, what about people who've never heard of Jesus?

Second, why do innocent people suffer?

And finally, how can we help people who are suffering?

Here's where we are in week three of through the Bible. You're still reading through Job and in the previous lesson we established the truth that there is life after death.

In addition, Jesus himself said that the only way to this life was through him. Which brings us to our next question. What about people who haven't heard of Jesus if he's the only way to eternal life?

The answer to this question is critically important. It's also one that worries many and causes others to doubt the fairness of God.

Here is how the Book of Job helps with an answer to the question of what about people who haven't heard? It is true that no one gets into heaven without acknowledging and trusting Jesus as Savior.

But as for those who we assume haven't heard, the first question is how.

Do we know they have not?

How do we know what God has revealed to them? Job reminds us that the Bible does not tell us the story of all humanity.

Our Bible is primarily focused on telling us a narrow part of human history, primarily that of a chosen people that.

The Jewish people in the land of Israel, whose history leads to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, and then continues with the church in the New Testament.

The Bible is a story of how God narrows his focus from all humanity to one group who will become the Jewish nation and who will, by their history, show the plan of salvation to the world.

What's important to understand about Job is that he isn't part of that particular story. Job was not of the chosen people. He was not a Jew or a part of Abraham's line. He lived sometime after the flood but before Moses. Yet he offered correct sacrifices and worshiped the true God.

He was called blameless by God.

He lived his life to please God.

Job spoke of God as his Redeemer.

He believed in an afterlife. He believed in moral accountability in accord.

With the standards later revealed explicitly in Scripture. God personally intervened in his life and after his trials, restored Him. Though Job's friends made some incorrect accusations.

And conclusions, it is obvious that all.

Of them believed in Jehovah God also. But neither Job or his friends were Jews.

Nothing else that we know for sure of their random speculations about it, of their story is told either before or after this book. Now, Job isn't our only glimpse of God at work in unexpected places.

Again, I want to emphasize before I go on that just because God focused on the Jewish race and then on the church in the New Testament, on this rather narrow group of people, that doesn't mean he isn't interested in everybody else, because he is. And so let's look at some places other than Job, where we see him at work.

We see many little pictures of God's saving involvement in the lives of those who are not specifically part of the chosen people. For example, Jonah was sent to preach to the Assyrians in Nineveh, one of the most cruel pagan nations of the time.

We know many in Nineveh repented in response to one of the shortest sermons ever preached, with one of the worst attitudes, Jonahs, where he simply went around the city shouting, 40 days from now and Nineveh will be destroyed. 40 days from now and Nineveh will be destroyed. No matter how lacking that sermon might.

Have been, many responded and came to know God.

Then there's the story of Rahab, a woman of ill repute and from

a nation God said to destroy totally because of their idolatry. Yet she knew about God and his power. She risked her life to hide the.

Jewish spies and becomes an ancestor of Jesus.

And finally, Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, people who were enemies and oppressors of Israel. His household servant, a captured slave, persuaded him to go to Israel for healing.

Which he did, and in the process.

Acknowledged a trust in the true God in the New Testament.

And today we have no idea what happened to many thousands, as the Book of Acts says, who came from every nation under heaven to hear the story of Jesus at Pentecost that Peter preached after Jesus resurrection and ascension into heaven, who they then went out into all the world back home to share that message. We read the story.

We read the story later in Acts of the Ethiopian Eunuch, who the apostle Philip found reading the book of Isaiah and and whose heart was open to the Gospel and who responded by being baptized. And then he returned to Ethiopia. Today we hear many stories of Jesus appearing in dreams to Muslims whose faith prepares them for visions.

Also, we hear reports from missionaries who go to isolated People who somehow they know Jesus. They know that there is a Son of God who is a savior, though he may have a different name.

I imagine there are many more stories we won't hear until we rejoice over them in heaven. But Job gives us a glimpse and assurance that God is involved in much more than we can see.

In conclusion, the answer to the question, what about people who haven't heard about Jesus as the only way to eternal life? The answer is twofold. First, how do you know about those you have no contact with? Trust God for them, and we must trust God for them.

And yet we are not without responsibility. Pray for and support missionaries, go on short term mission trips, or consider online evangelism.

That can be an incredible opportunity to reach closed countries. Today with the Internet you can actually correspond with people and it's really a marvelous opportunity.

Second, for those you know, tell them that you have a whole lot of friends that don't know Jesus. Tell them about him. There are many ways to do that today personally, through social media, invite him to a group, whatever you'd like to do.

Bible 805 has podcasts and videos about what it means to become a Christian. Refer him to that. Check out the Story of the Bible is Good News, the Good News of Salvation.

It's available on the website, on the Bible805 YouTube channel. Just pass it on to people. The program Christianity Explored is wonderful for a group experience to share.

Jesus and I highly recommend that the next questions follow the conclusion that everyone is included in God's plans, though perhaps in ways we can't see. And these remaining two questions, five, why do innocent people suffer? And number six, how can we help people who are suffering?

Now we'll look at how the book of Job helps answer these questions. Question number five again, why do innocent people suffer? First, we need to see if Job fits the description of an innocent person suffering.

And we'll find that he does. But just to review, in chapter one, God said Job was blameless. You don't get more innocent than that.

Looking at Job's life as recorded in the rest of the book tells us what God considers a blameless life to be. And it really describes the various things in his life.

I would encourage you, when you have time, to look at chapters 23, 29 and 31, where Job specifically lists what made him blameless before God. But in summary, here are the things that Job did. He treasured God's words. He helped the poor. He counseled others. He wept for those in need.

He was sexually pure. He was just to those who were the least of these.

He did not trust in money, he did not rejoice over his enemies misfortunes, he was host to strangers and he did not conceal his sins. In summary, he put into practice Micah 6, 8 that commands us to do justly, to love mercy and kindness and walk humbly with our God.

God's requirements don't change. Personal godliness and caring for the less fortunate and the stranger are always important. These things or what define a blameless person.

Job certainly fit into the category of innocent suffering, as many do today who suffer also. Now if Job did what God wanted, why didn't God continue to bless him? According to Job's friends, obviously Job quit obeying God.

So he was punished, right? He started sinning. He may have been a good guy before, but no, he started sinning. That isn't, that isn't right.

We need to understand how wrong this thinking is.

Because this idea that you do something and then God will automatically do something is what we often hear today and in our heart of hearts that's what we expect. But it is incorrect. It is a transactional view of our relationship with God. God does not act that way. I'll explain it in more detail.

Now this view often comes up in the health and wealth and name it and claim it teachings. And it is often proof texted. That means people will pull verses really out of context to say that this is the truth. And this happens so often.

Or I should say some of the verses that they use quite often actually come from Job.

Pulling verses out of context to make them support a non biblical teaching is a huge problem, particularly today when many people don't read the entire Bible as they should, let alone the context of a book or passage.

Now let's look at this context of the book of Job, because again like I said, many of the verses that justify that you do this, God does that, God owes you this, he punishes you for that. All of these things, many of them come out of Job. But we know in Job that what he was suffering was instigated by Satan. God has told us that.

So we know that the reason for some suffering is because of spiritual warfare. We don't see yet we struggle to explain it in human terms. And here we see the recorded arguments from Job's friends. Why are they in the Bible?

What are we supposed to learn from them? Hang in there. The answer is a little bit complicated.

But to understand this you've always got to not only for this, the questions about Job, but you've always Got to read the whole book in the Bible as you do any book, because sometimes it isn't until the end that all the pieces fit together. This is especially true in a book like Job, because Job is part of what is called wisdom literature.

When reading wisdom literature, you must read all the book, the entire book, beginning to end, and you must read it carefully to understand the arguments and then the all important conclusion at the end of the book. Here's the conclusion you need to keep in mind as you read Job at the end of the book.

In Job 427 it says, after the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, I am angry with you and your two friends because you've not spoken the truth about me as my servant Job has. You must keep this in mind when you read the statements and arguments of Job's friends. Their statements sound so good, so sensible.

But God's summary of their arguments is that they were not true. You must read their comments with this in mind.

This is so important because the arguments from Job's friends are the same ones people use today when someone is suffering. When you hear them, remember God said they are false. Here's an example of what sounds good but is very wrong.

Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove wickedness from your tent, you will pray to him and he will hear you.

And you will fulfill your vows. When you do, what you decide on will always be done and light will shine on your ways.

You may want to nod in agreement until you remember that God said their words taken as a whole. Now there are bits and pieces, of course, that have validity, but as a whole, God said that their conclusions were not true. What's wrong with them?

Shouldn't we submit to God, be at peace with him, return to Him? Yes, of course we should. That isn't the problem. Part of what they said was correct, but their conclusion was wrong.

The problem is that by doing what we're supposed to do, humans. Now listen carefully. Humans do not obligate God to respond in the way a human thinks God should respond.

Again, this view of suffering and reward is an incorrect transactional view of humanity's relationship to God.

Without Thinking, though, this is how many people believe God acts today, in part because it's promoted by some teachers, writers, and even in churches. But it is wrong and ultimately disappointing because it doesn't work and because it isn't true to how God truly works.

Job's friends believed Job sinned and he deserved to be punished. If he quit sinning, everything would work out. They believed evil is punished and good is rewarded by prosperity on a continuous basis in this life.

Submit to God and be at peace with him, they said. In this way, prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. God did not validate this belief then, and he doesn't today. This is prosperity gospel preaching. You do this, God will do that.

No, that is not how it works. We do not obligate God to do anything for us because we obey Him. He is our Creator and God.

We owe him our obedience regardless of what he does for us. It was not a popular view then, and it isn't now. But much more is going on than we can see.

We are not guaranteed simple answers to the trials and troubles of this life. The answer as to why things happen is not a baptized version of karma.

It's not a transactional view of God where we do certain things and God will respond in a certain way. God is not a genie under our control. If we're honest, we don't like this. We scream that it isn't fair because we want to be in control.

We want to control God by our actions. We want to think that if we do this, he's supposed to do that. We want him to be our puppet. But it simply doesn't work out that way.

It didn't for Job, and it won't for us. Ultimately, we have no idea why there's suffering in a particular situation, though God shows us again that there's much more going on.

Let's look at some of the areas. First of all, we need to remember that spiritual warfare is a reality.

Ephesians 6 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Somehow we're part of it. Somehow the troubles of this world are part of it.

And as part of it, we know that in our trials we're being watched by God and angels and demons. What we do in our lives and trials matters perhaps far more than we can imagine. And in this life.

We will probably know nothing about that aspect of it, though sometimes we might get a little bit of a sense of it. As you read in the End of Job, God never answered Job's questions. He never knew from an earthly view what happened in heaven that caused his trials.

But with this in mind, let's go to our next observation. Sometimes it is only through trials or pruning that we can grow in our Christian lives.

Let me be pruned that I may grow rather than be cut up to burn. All who know Christ will suffer. I can't think of a single Bible character who was used by God in a significant way that also had an easy life.

Not that we want to intentionally punish ourselves, but I think CS Lewis has some great advice here and I don't think it only applies to this example. His advice in how we evaluate many things in our Christian life is he asked the question does it pinch?

When he was asked about how much people should give. This is a specific instance he was talking about, but again I think it applies in many areas.

But when he was asked about this, his answer was something along the lines of if our expenditures, our lifestyle, our indulgences are the same as those of our economic peers, we may want to consider our lives. He summed it up by saying that to him the correct amount to give was that it ought to pinch. I think that's excellent advice for all areas of life.

If our giving our service to the Lord and others does not pinch in some way, we might want to spend some time in self evaluation. We ought not to expect a life lived as Jesus disciple to not cost us in some way.

Don't be surprised when trials come when pruning is part of your life, when it begins to pinch. A world class athlete goes through very strict training, self denial.

A couch potato eats what he wants and does what he wants and you see the results of both.

God is in the process of forming you as his eternal disciple, his world class representative and you have no idea of how he might want to use you or what glorious task he is preparing you to do live your life so God can say of you as he did of Job, have you seen my servant Bill or Emily or Jeff or whoever it might be and use you as an example to Satan because you're doing all you know how to do to please your God and grow in your relationship to him, and you aren't selfish about it, as Job wasn't The needs of our world are immense and the challenge is to determine before the Lord what He wants you to do to give of yourself and your resources to meet those needs. Part of that might be taking time to help those who are hurting. Which leads to our final question. How can we help people who are suffering?

And let's include ourselves in that first of all, share what I previously talked about.

One of the best things you can give a suffering friend is the truth that the Christian life is not a transactional exercise of be good and get goodies, be bad and get smacked. That is not true. Share instead an eternal perspective that God is in control and will work out all things one day.

That might not always help in the moment, but it is a core truth. People will come back to it when nothing else makes sense. Don't be a miserable counselor or one who condemns or judges.

We never know why or what God is doing. The person suffering may be greatly honored by God with this trial. Even if they're going through a time of discipline, let God do it. Don't pile on.

Don't shoot the wounded. Follow Job's advice here, where he said to the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

My brothers have been as treacherous as a seasonal stream. Be kind and pray for others, for strength and wisdom and trust in God.

Remind them and yourself that just because God is in control does not mean it will get better. In this life, the ultimate healing and blessing are guaranteed. Timing is not we will be healed and blessed. Maybe on this earth, maybe not.

It did get better for Job. He had twice as much. He lived 140 years. He saw his children and grandchildren. And it got better for Joseph.

He was taken from prison and made a ruler in Egypt. Wonderful things happened to him. He reconciled with his brothers. He saw his father again. Fantastic life. But it didn't get better for Jeremiah.

I don't think poor Jeremiah ever had a good day. Or the apostle Paul. Or for the unnamed heroes of the Faith in Hebrews 11 who it says were beaten, sawn in two their loved ones died.

All sorts of terrible things happened to them. It didn't get better for Jesus. It didn't get better for Moses. From an earthly viewpoint.

After 40 years of exile, after answering God's call to lead Israel out of Egypt, he spent 40 years babysitting a quarreling, unthankful, constantly complaining group of people. And then he doesn't get to go into the Promised Land because he loses his temper. One time he loses his temper and God says, you can't go.

I think God gave him the story of Job ahead of time as a comfort in this Advice on what to do in the midst of trials don't wait until anything for the pain to go away, for things to get better, for more money, health, whatever. Before you do these things, first of all, express thanks. Not for, but in circumstances make it a discipline. Affirm you serve a good God.

Out loud in some of the really difficult times in my life, with tears streaming down my face and my guts just in a knot and just feeling as horrible as I couldn't have ever imagined I'd feel as a discipline, I will say thank you.

I will raise my fist to the heavens and shake it, and just to let any principalities and powers and whatever, no, I will say, I affirm that you are a good God. Give up a sin if you need to. Sometimes we aren't aware of what's wrong until trials come. Evaluate and then take action.

In first Peter 4:1 2 and then in verse 7 it says, Think of your sufferings as a weaning away from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it.

Sometimes it takes a smack on the head to get us to pay attention to what is truly important, and trials can do that. Pray for wisdom on how to respond when you're in a trial.

Take the advice of this verse in James 1:2, where it says, consider a pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.

We need wisdom in the midst of trials, so ask for it with these questions for yourself and use the same questions to help another person going through trials. First of all, ask am I doing something wrong? Ask God this. Pray about this. Just ask him. Say am I messing up? Am I doing something wrong? Show me.

If nothing's revealed, ask for peace. Next ask, what do you want me to change? When it's clear, obey it. When he tells you something, do what he tells you to do. Don't argue with Him.

What have I missed in this situation, in making this decision or taking this course of action, Hurry remember is seldom the answer and times sometimes ask him, what are you protecting me from? We sometimes want something very badly, but God might be protecting us from something we can't even see.

From boyfriends to business opportunities, God always knows what is best. What might seem like a trial can be a blessing if we wait and ask and study the Bible to get a correct, true view of how God works.

You will only learn the truth of how God works and what he expects, what he wants, what his true standards are by reading the entire Bible and learning it well, thinking about and intentionally developing your relationship with the Lord. Don't just act from hearsay about God. Observe in the Bible how others lived in trying times.

We'll see great stories as we go through the entire Bible in Joseph's life, David's and many other Old Testament characters. Study the whole Bible so you don't have false expectation but true hope as you come to see God's long term plans for his people. One more suggestion.

If you're the one hurting, don't give up.

When hard times come, don't confirm Satan's accusations that you only serve God when things are going well, acknowledge that God is good, faithful and in control, even if it's difficult to see. Now shake your fist and scream at the heavens that you believe and trust God.

Maybe through tears or pain, but let the hosts of heaven know and quietly and in faith. Continue to trust God and put one foot in front of the other each day.

In closing, let's review what we learned from Job in answering the big questions of life. Question 1 How did we get here? God created us and all there is. Question number two what messed things up?

Humanity turned away from God believing Satan rather than God. Who is Satan and what power does he have?

He's a created being under God's control but for now causing pain and suffering, constantly accusing believers. 3. Is there life after death. Yes, it is clearly taught from Job and Genesis to Revelation. Please see the lesson Life after death for more 4.

What about people who never heard of Jesus? We don't know what they've heard, but we do know God is at work in many ways. We know nothing about tell who we can. Why do innocent people suffer?

Many reasons we don't understand, but we know all suffering is under God's control and no suffering for a believer in Jesus will last forever. 6. How can we help people who are suffering? Be kind, Be honest. Encourage them to develop an eternal, not transactional, view of how God works.

Concluding thoughts that underscore the key teachings that I've been talking about. It is incredibly important for us as it was for Moses to understand these truths as we go through the Bible and all of life.

I think I truly believe that Moses needed Job's story before he could serve for the 40 plus years in the tremendously difficult situation that he did. We need them to live what is ahead of us.

We live in a tremendously difficult time now, and chances are there will be even more challenging times ahead. God does not interact with us on a transactional basis of if we do this, he is not guaranteed to do what we want him to do when we want him to do it.

God will do as he chooses, even if it involves temporary suffering. And temporary might mean the rest of your life. But remember, in light of eternity, what a tiny time it is.

Spiritual warfare is a reality that is pervasive, unrelenting, and somehow involves us. Though God is always in control, God's will for us and what happens to us goes beyond this life, and his will and plans for us are good.

We may not get a personal vision of God as Job did, but we see him in His Word and in His Word. I want to leave you with this promise.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, and he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

And surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Keep in mind the lessons of Job, the long view of trials, and be assured that at the end of it all, with joy complete, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

That's all for now. For notes from this lesson, related resources and links to teaching materials go to www.

Bible 804 in closing, I'm Yvonne Prynn, your fellow pilgrim, writer and teacher for Jesus. And I'd like to close with this benediction.

May you know the invitation of God to move from confusion to clarity, from wandering to rest, from loneliness to knowing you are loved, from turmoil to peace, from wherever you are on your spiritual journey to a growing knowledge of God's word and in your personal relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.