Job 29:2

"Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me."

It is that Job recognizes how God kept him. Too many Christians have not given thought to this as they should. We are here for one reason, God in His mercy allowed it. And the wise Christian is one that sees where they came from, where they are, and where they are going. Oh that I were as in months past - a desire that is not possible yet offers hope to the troubled heart; So much is made of this thought, 'if I could only go back and change things'; 'If I knew then what I knew now, I would have done things differently'. Such statements indicate people's desire to change and they think such change would benefit them. Job knew his condition in month's pasts. He knew he was settled in his ways, and the Lord had done it all. He knew his family was still intact, his health was good, his life was blest and God was kind. but now? He sees he has lost his family, his health is miserable and he wonders where and why God has done this. What would you say of your own estate? How was you in months past? WAs you on fire for the Lord and growing in grace and knowledge of Him? or was you in sin and contrary to the ways of God? For I know that many if they were to go back as in days gone by, they would be in rebellion and sin. For their days have been filled with unfaithfulness, disobedience and sin. And for those that look back upon blest days, days like Job, that life was good and at ease, they remember the blessings. When you hear many an older person say, "The good old days", they are referring to days of ismplicity, bliss and ease. But now, for most, life is confusing, chaotic and hurried. Many a soul has never experienced joy or peace in their life. this generation has lost the advantage of days gone by when life was simple, and less chaotic. Would we desire to go back to the days of revivals and awakenings? Days where God came down and His fullness was on His people. We would see Jesus. Days when the church was growing and active and His Name was proclaimed with boldness and joy. Oh, that the church would remember the days gone by when God was in our midst. but now, His abesence is felt and known by the saints as well, as by the world. It is not a mystery that they know that something is amiss and wrong among us. WE are not as we were in months past. As in the days when God preserved me - it is by God's Divine hand that we are kept; Job recognized the mercies of the Lord in keeping him and his family. when tragedy fell on his children, he knew that God's hand of preservation was gone. and so it is we should recognize the events of our life are for a reason and cause. have we caused harm to our loved ones because we walk amiss? that we quench and grieve the Holy Spirit and He withdraws from us in keeping us? Do we invite Satan to come and harm us and those that we love because we have offended the Lord? God was to be glorified throught he sufferings of Job. But the only way for Satan to get at him was to have the FAther's Divine hand removed from keeping him. If God removes His hand from a person, a family, a nation there is no hope. God may allows for Satan to 'have at them' but 'only spare their lives'. this is the truth that we need to understand and pray for. 'Keep us from sin'; 'Deliver us from the evil one'. Le the hand of the Lord be present and may His ways be known to us.