Job 33

“So, Job, please, hear my speech; listen to all my words. Look, I am opening my mouth; the words are on the tip of my tongue. I will say exactly what is on my mind; what my lips know they will speak sincerely. It is the Spirit of God that made me, the breath of Shaddai that gives me life. So refute me, if you can; organize your words, take your stand! Look, before God, I’m the same as you; I too am fashioned from clay. You don’t need to be afraid of me; my pressure on you will not be heavy.” Job33:1-7 (CJB)

Over the past few years, I have noticed a bumper sticker on more and more cars. It is a sticker that reads “coexist,” and the letters are made up of religious symbols: Muslim crescent & star, Satanic pentagram, “e” from the theory of relativity, yin-yang, Karma wheel dotting an “I,” and of course, the Cross. The problem with this bumper sticker is that these religions can’t coexist! If you study the teachings of these religions, devout followers of each would always be trying to kill or convert the others. Given these religions’ various conflicting claims to truth, it is a naive notion that they could ever live in harmony.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

We should indeed be respectful to all mankind, remembering that all life is a gift from God. At the same time, we must be certain that the object of our worship is the one that leads to eternal life.

“Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

The young Elihu claimed to speak from the Spirit, which was breathed into him by God and gave him life. But just because he was alive, that was no grounds for Elihu to be an emissary of God’s saving grace. Satan is obviously speaking lies through this young man.   Notice how Elihu’s promise of lightening Job’s spiritual burden mimics the words of Jesus. The best heresies are those which closely resemble the real thing. They claim the same God to divine new revelations from the same Spirit, and they bend God’s Word to mean the opposite of its intended message. “From such, turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5b (NKJV)  

“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 (NKJV)

While we are all called to share the gospel, ultimately, it is Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who reveals the Father to the unbeliever at the soul level.