"If Only" - The Opposite Of Faith

“If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. [Job 11.13-14]

If only indeed.

I sit here today starting at these words of Job's friend Zophar on my computer screen and all I can do is repeat, "if only..."

Job's story really is one that requires a lot of study. It reveals the human condition quite well - even for those who are "good" like Job. Job and his friends all say some undeniably remarkable things about life and about God. However, even in the temptation to engage in critical analysis of Job's and his friends' words, we must remember one thing:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

Jesus laid out the litmus test for understanding all Scripture: find Him in it!

When we find Jesus even in the Old Testament Scriptures, we have found truth. If, on the other hand, we become distracted with the story details and lose sight of Jesus, then, we are destined for hollow, baseless religion.

The ironic thing about Job's plight is that in today's OYCB reading, he made the following comment:

“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. [Job 9.32-33]

Notice Job's "if only" here that preceded Zophar's "if only."

"If only there were a mediator..." And, there is Jesus.

While countless attempts have been made to explain Job's story, and the divide is great between opinions, we must not lose sight of God's Promised Messiah through it all. We can stand on what Jesus said in John 5.39.

The "if only's" of both Zophar and Job are fulfilled in Christ! Our "in only's" are fulfilled in Christ. You see, the human condition "if only" was even present when Jesus actually walked the earth too:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. [John 11.21]

When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” [John 11.32]

"If only" is the opposite of faith.

I think I will just let that soak in...

Father, forgive me for all my passive "if only" mentality when Jesus' words and example teach me to actively and confidently walk in faith.