I know many people will say, "God forbid" as our usual style of making it known that we are all not prepared for the inevitables.
There are different types of things that could happen suddenly, viz:
Promotion is inevitable; Progress is also inevitable. Giving birth is inevitable, and buying new things such as cars, houses, getting married and so on are all inevitables. All these are a success story to anyone who happens to witness any of the above and those good things not mentioned. While in the other categories there may be business collapse, you may be sacked from your office, you may lose all you have laboured and lived for; your marriage may collapse, and death to any of your loved ones or even yourself, are all part of the inevitables.
What if any of the above mentioned and the unmentioned happens to you suddenly? How prepared are you is the question I want to ask you before making that plans for the weekend and the new year ahead of us all?
Adam and Eve were not preparing for failure and death even while they were pre-warned of the inevitable, they ignored it, and it happened suddenly; and they were thrown out of their comfort zone into a new life of pains and agonies that now leads everyone of us into fear and death - Genesis 3 vs. 1 to end.
Cain was not prepared for failure even when all things were made available for him to succeed, and suddenly he experienced failure, and every other things collapsed along the line, including his life and future - Genesis 4 vs. 1 to end.
Noah with his family and all the people of the first generation destroyed were not preparing for the destruction after several warnings and cautions, yet it happened suddenly - Genesis 6, 7, 8 and 9.
The whole earth after the flood agreed to continue to be together and be of one language without consideration to the feelings of God, and suddenly the inevitable happened; their language was confounded and they were all scattered into different parts of the earth as we are today - Genesis 11 vs. 1 to 9.
Abraham was not prepared to get out of his family's house not to talk of his kindred or nation but, suddenly it happened - Genesis 12 vs. 1 to 8.
Abraham was not preparing for a life of agonies and pains but, along the line it happened suddenly when he was met with famine in the land he was asked to go and stay - Genesis 12 vs. 10 to 20.
Abraham was not expecting anything to go wrong between him and his brother Lot but suddenly, there was fight, hatred and rancour between their herdsmen, and they have to be separated from one another - Genesis 13 vs. 1 to 12.
Job was a lover of anything about God as written in Job 1 v. 1 that
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil."
But when he was least prepared the inevitable happened as written in Job 1 vs. 6 to 19 as follow:
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, the oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
Job's story was mixed with pains and gains but, what if it happens to you; what will be your reaction and action? You cannot tell when the inevitable will be allowed in your life but, the question is "how prepared are you for this inevitable when it happens?"
Job was always conscious of everything and in everything because he didn't want to take anything for granted as written in Job 1 v. 5
"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, it may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."
Your righteousness is not the case here. Your unrighteousness is also not the case here. Being a Pastor or Minister of the Word is not even the case here as well but, the inevitables even in the face of your being loyal to God is allowed to happen. What will you do if God allows the inevitable to happen to you as He did to Job with all his good criteria before and with God?
Job was adjudged to be righteous before God but, the inevitable happened to him. Job said in Job 3 vs. 24 to 26 as follow:
"For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came."
Job was up and doing without slack but, the inevitable was allowed in his life. If you say it won't and it did, what will be your reaction and action, I asked again? How Job reacted to all that befell him was written in Job 1 vs. 20 to 22 as follow:
"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
Can you do as Job did? Think about this my brothers and sisters right now; if the inevitable happens, will you still be able to trust in God and praise him?
A word is enough for the wise. May you have the courage to bear whatsoever comes your way when you least expect; in Jesus name. Happy weekend. See you next week, God willing.
Spread the news and share this link, and who knows, you may save a soul through this message. Remain blessed but, remember "what if it happens suddenly?"
