Ontology  

We must review what Job said toward the end of his quandary and inner alteration.

In Job 42:5, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye sees thee.” Also in Job 42:6, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

 Job’s faculty for discerning God shifted from ear to eye.

…but wait, this new “sharpening of insight,” caused Job to hate himself?

Apparently the shift of insight made him see drastically clearer, awakening a new awe of God, but deepening shame-awareness?

But, what new thing did Job see in God?

To explain, here is a quote from our founder, Pastor Stevens;

“God is ontological. Very simply, this means that God has always been everything He is and ever will be. Even before He created the angels and the human race, God was who He is now and who He will be forever. In contrast, God is not “economical,” meaning that God does not operate on the basis of production, consumption, or wealth. God is not becoming who He is.

God created man and sought to redeem mankind after the Fall of Adam and Eve. The economical approach to redemption would have depicted God as utilizing love as a producer. But God is not economical. Economists efficiently need and utilize resources.

His love, revealed, was not a “cause and effect” solution to the shocking entrance of sin upon the earth.

God’s love is based upon His ontological nature — He has always been.

“He is love, He always was love, and He always will be love.

Inasmuch as God is ontological; God is not capricious, (subject to mood changes), or arbitrary, ( subject to desire, idea, or chance). Toward the objects of His love, God is simply love.

• God’s love is a love beyond any love;
• His joy is a joy beyond any joy;
• His forgiveness is forgiveness beyond any forgiveness.
• His wisdom is a wisdom beyond any wisdom,
• His power is a power beyond any power.

An awakened Job needed not fret over worldly self-progress, or lack of self-progress; neither self-resources or lack.

SO, what did Job see?

— A compassion-filled face,  a mercy seat,  pure complacency, an inviting countenance, a seeker of Job.

Yes,  the suffering, wounded Job is sought by name, and found by the ever-loving Savior and God.

The revelation removed temporal casuistry stopping time’s “cause and effect” demand.

Job froze — stayed frozen too. Long enough for Job to grasp something of what remained.

He saw nothing at first!

Then God appeared and the new eyes opened,  never before effected!

God had been there continually; but Job’s eyes had to be awakened to Him.

Now they were.

We are from above, dear committed ones; we are not sentimentally attached to earthly wants or needs! We are seated above. We are not economical first, but embracing the ontological; forsaking

1. fickleness,
2. temperamental stuff,
3. gain-seeking
4. moodiness,
5. chance

No longer do we have to suffer from the plagues of the past which have wounded us. We are free in Him.

The words of our pastor echo in our hearts,

“We must stand firm in an identity that is derived from the Cross. An identity derived from the Cross is never sentimental; it does not compromise.”

The cross summarizes what Job saw. Don’t get sucked into an identity which is merely an earthly one.

Commit, pledge, bind, promise, focus and carry out. What? — your identity in Jesus Christ.

Unchanging, solid, not fleeting;  in the depth of your being, cleave:

Old things are passed away, all things have become new! Today!

love ya

( first in a series of messages which will become a book for grief sufferers)