The World's Opinion

“You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” That is what we all have to face as bloggers, writers, or just people in general. I have become quite used to this phenomenon and have been dealing with it most of my life. Being a believer in Christ Jesus and taking the Bible as the literal directive for my life here on earth, seems to makes some people a bit disgruntle and uncomfortable. However, it is hardly unusual to have someone who hates, misjudges, or condemns us for our perspective and interpretation of the word of God. It really does not matter who you are someone will find fault with something you say or do. So what do you do?

You ask yourself a couple of simple questions. Whose opinion of you really matters to you? Do you really care what other people think more than you care about how God sees you? Are you relaying the truth, as you know it? Do you feel lead by the Holy Spirit or is it only your opinion as a human being directed by your own mind and worldly influences?

The answers are easy. First, the only opinion that I should be concerned about is God’s. Second, he holds the scale of justice and mercy in his hands and I had better give you an honest measure, it matters to him, he expects it from all of us. Third, I am relaying the truth in God’s own words and simply explaining it as the Holy Spirit explained it to me. He directs me in all things and expects me to be honest and true whether it pleases someone or not the truth is the truth. Forth, I am very well aware that a man’s own mind can lead him astray, so it is imperative that we pray and ask for guidance before relaying our message to the world to assure ourselves it is right and truth.

That is what the book of Job really relates to us. Job’s friends thought they knew what was going on and were advising Job about what he had to have done to deserve the judgments of the Lord. Nevertheless, in reality God was testing Job, not punishing him for any misdeeds. He had to dig down deep inside and rely on his faith in the Lord. Even though he did not understand the reasons, he did know and trust the Lord with all of his being. He held on to that belief until the end of his suffering and his faithfulness was eventually rewarded.

If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands toward him, if you remove all iniquity from your conduct, and let not injustice dwell in your tent, surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; you may stand firm and unafraid. For then you shall forget your misery, or recall it like waters that have ebbed away. Then your life shall be brighter than the noonday; its gloom shall become as the morning, and you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look round you and lie down in safety, and you shall take your rest with none to disturb. –Job 11:13-19

I stand firm in my beliefs in my Lord and Savior and his written word. I take comfort in the knowledge that I am following what he has called me to do. I try to encourage others to be strong in the secular world we live in; we are in the world but not of this world. It is little wonder we do not feel like we belong here for we do not. I look forward to the coming of the Lord and the homecoming we will receive as we meet our father in heaven. When I go before the Lord, I will do it with the confidence that he will look at me and say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” That my friends is what matters, so hold on to the truth and profess it with all your heart for you are not alone.