Former professional basketball player, Charles Barkley, had a brother named Darryl who passed away in 2009. Prior to his passing, Darryl had an interesting conversation with Mark Cahill, evangelist, who played college ball with Charles in Auburn. Mark Cahill retold this conversation in his book, “One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven”. Darryl explained that his heart had stopped a couple of months ago when he had a heart attack. Though many describe white lights, this is not what Darryl Barkley saw. He saw trees burning, the ground smoldering, and a lake of fire. Darryl was looking at hell. Darryl confidently stated that if he were to have died at that moment, he would have spent eternity in hell. Mark then asked him if he knew what it would take to change his destination, and Darryl clearly stated the gospel message of Jesus Christ. When Mark asked him if he was ready to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior, to Mark’s surprise, Darryl said, “No”. When asked why not, Darryl stated, “I like the things of the world better than the things of God.” Mark said it was one of saddest conversations, because though Darryl clearly understood, he was also clearly making the decision to follow the world and accept the consequences of hell, which he knew he would one day go to. Stunned, Mark asked him if he believed this was a dream, to which Darryl said, that it was no dream, but more real than anything he had ever experienced. We tend to make the mistake that if only people understood, then they would believe. But understanding the facts does not dictate or guarantee making a good decision. This decision is based more on faith centered on who He is, rather than our understanding of our present circumstances. Our hope stands on what He did, not what we do.

The story surrounding Job is described in the first two chapters as the stage is set. Interestingly, the main characters in the rest of the book, Job and his four friends, are not given this information. Before the true One behind the story revealed in chapters 38-41, when God asks Job a series of questions, the bulk of the book revolves around Job who seeks understanding of his present condition and his friends who think they understand a lot more than they do. His friends believed they had all the facts they needed, but they were completely wrong and merciless as they launched into Job. Despite Job’s lack of understanding and his desire for answers, Job’s faith shines through his circumstances. In the midst of his suffering, we read in Job 19:25-27, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Out of the darkness, Job cries out one of the most triumphant declarations of faith in the Old Testament. Job did not understand his circumstances, but his faith triumphed as he focused on God.

Though many of us will not go through the suffering that Job went through, how we face life’s challenges will depend more on our faith and less on our understanding of why we are suffering. Rather than plummeting into self-pity, we would do well to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto Him. We read what faith is in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Understanding does not dictate correct action. We read in John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Like Darryl Barkley who knew the facts, but simply desired what this life had to offer, more than the truth of Jesus Christ, so did many know the truth during the times of Jesus. We read in James 4:14, “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” This time on earth is short lived. Our hope and our trust is in Jesus Christ, who conquered sin and death once and for all at Calvary. We do not have to understand our circumstances, but only accept Him as our Savior. When sharing our faith with others, likewise, we need to point less on ourselves, less on trying to explain and help others understand their present circumstances, and more on the Person of Jesus Christ, and who He is, and what He accomplished for us.