Departing Words

You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season. Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.”
Job 5:26-27
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Departing Words
Eliphaz ends his discourse with Job in a manner which would have most rethinking their friendship.  Throughout all of Job’s suffering Eliphaz has suggest nothing less than that Job was the cause of all his troubles.  And now reiterates that the holy and righteous man would have a long life filled with many blessings.  He offers only platitudes where understanding and empathy were needed. But as shallow as Eliphaz’s departing words are, God gives us the full height and depth of His loving Word. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b) “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 20:20b) “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:3-6) “‘He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 21:20)