Restoration Double - THE BIG PARTY
After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
It is party time. The year is ending for some, while for others it is just beginning; it could be a welcome party, cultural gala, end of year party, candidates’ send off party, URA party, wedding party, and soon many a Christmas party... it’s truly party time. Have you attended one? After the party, there are always happy people and always complaining people. It is hardly ever perfect; the decoration, or the food, or the emcee, or the time keeping, or the ushers – something will be unsatisfactory somewhere or even go really bad; but there will always be some people who will go happy and smiling all the way – they didn’t notice what went wrong, and for them everything was perfect.
We read of Job’s life starting as a party, then sinking into the mire of poverty and suffering, and then finally ending as a greater party. At the start of the book, we are told of Job’s family parties and the consecration that he would carry out for his family after. It was sad that Job’s family perished at a party! However, the party at the end of Job’s life is beautifully described as one that was near perfect; by the provisions and the people who attended – all his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before; there was eating and gifting and rejoicing – it was the big party of Job’s life, and it was accompanied with blessings of double restoration. Each one of us would love to enjoy this kind of party at some point in your life. But how did Job get to this party? How did he arrive at this pure delight?
Couples who have had sex before marriage cannot enjoy their wedding as much as those who abstained all the way. A house warming party is not sweet when the owner is struggling with the guilt of having stolen some of the money that built it. Sin spoils the party whether we see it or not, and Job’s profile – that ‘In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing’ (Job 1:21) – was paramount to his enjoying the big party. Even throughout the time he had tempting advice from his wife and friends, he kept his integrity. If you want to enjoy your party, keep your integrity. Shun shortcut advice that will land you in sin. Keep your conscience clear and resist every form of evil. The journey may have rough patches and some suffering, but to all those who keep their integrity and faithfulness to God, the end is not only happy celebration but also a prolonged enjoyment in fortunes restored double.
‘Resist the devil’, whether he is he inciting you to curse God, or is he enticing you to do evil. Remember, the end of all time is also described to be a great party – the wedding between the Lamb and the Church; and this is followed by a heaven which is much more than double fortunes. And this best moment is preserved for those who keep their integrity. May the Lord give you joy in today’s party, but more so in the party of all time – the eternal joy and peace in eternity.
God bless you all.