Contentment at the End

And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days. (Job 42:12-17 ESV). The book of Job ends on a note of contentment and peace. Job was probably about seventy when the book opens, so he is an old man. What a picture of peace, a contented man. God had greatly blessed him. I find it very comforting as I talk to other older people who have learned the secret to contentment. Some have confused contentment with resignation; however, it far from that! When we are able to face both our past and future with equal peace, that is contentment. This is Job. Because of the gift of grace in our lives, the old is past, put away forever. God invites us always to forget about all the distrust and fears, all the anxieties of the past, all the resentments we have been holding against others, all the grudges, all the criticisms. We have a new beginning every day. The question that hovers over us as we close this book is how we will choose to live each of our days. Will it be on the old basis of it-all-depends-on-me, do-it-yourself goodness before God, trying my best to be pleasing to God and meaning it with all my heart but never realizing the depths of evil with which I have to deal? Or will I accept the gift of God that is waiting for me every day, fresh from His hand, a gift of forgiveness, of righteousness already mine, of a relationship in which He is my dear Father and I am his cherished, beloved son, and in which I therefore have provided for me all I need, all day long, so that I may say no to evil and yes to truth and right? If it is, each of our days will be characterized by peace and contentment. We recently finished a remodeling project in our church. We finished the installation of stained glass and plantation style shutters in the sanctuary. While it was good before, the difference now is striking. The colors of the stained glass filter in a kaleidoscope of the spectrum. It almost seems as if there is a perpetual rainbow in the room now. I think that’s how God wants us to see every circumstance of our lives. Regardless of what you may be facing at this time in your life, God has given you an unbreakable promise to bless you with peace and contentment. Choose His way… you won’t be disappointed!