SCRIPTURE: Job 28-31
“How I long for the good old days! That’s when God watched over me. The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light. Those were the best days of my life. That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.” (Job 29:1-4)
When were the ‘good old days’ for you?
The season in your life when everything seemed good, right, the way things were supposed to be?
Unfortunately, our memories may not be as accurate as we think.
Reminds me of Israel in the wilderness, thinking back to the ‘good old days’ as slaves in Egypt.
“Some people who were with them began to long for other food. Again the people of Israel began to cry out. They said, ‘We wish we had meat to eat. We remember the fish we ate in Egypt. It didn’t cost us anything. We also remember the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we’ve lost all interest in eating. We never see anything but this manna!'” (Numbers 11:4-6)
Not without reason did the Teacher say “Don’t say, ‘Why were things better in the good old days?’ It isn’t wise to ask that kind of question.” (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
But even if what Job describes was not as perfect as he remembers, what he longs for is valid.
When God watches over me, when God’s light shines on me, when I walk through darkness with God’s light, when God’s friendship blesses my house…
What this describes is the best ‘old days’ ever, before the fall into sin, when Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden.
This is what we were made for, this is what Job longs for, this is why Job laments his illness.
And this is what we long for, what all people need and seek, but cannot seem to find.
Thankfully, God has taken steps to restore this, so we can look forward to ‘the good new days’ to come!
By faith, instead of looking backwards, look forwards (see Revelation 21-22).
With Job, look forward to the day that is coming: “I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end he will stand on the earth. After my skin has been destroyed, in my body I’ll still see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes. I’ll see him, and he won’t be a stranger to me. How my heart longs for that day!” (Job 19:25-27)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, my heart longs for the day when all sickness, suffering and sadness are gone, when we live in Your light and love, and Your friendship blessed everyone!!!