Sometimes The Test Can Be Very Severe.

"All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan."Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.
One day, when Job's sons and daughters were feasting at the older brother's house, a messenger arrived at Job's home with the news: "Your oxen were plowing with the donkeys feeding beside them when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "The fire of God  has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all your shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: "Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother's home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." Job 1:12-19 (NLT)
The story of Job is one of the most profound in the Bible. It is the story of a righteous man who was permitted by God to be tested by the Devil. Satan accused Job of serving God simply because of the blessings endowed upon him and the divine protection Job enjoyed. His argument was that if Job lost everything he had, he would surely turn his back on God and even curse Him! So, God gave permission for Job to be attacked by Satan to test his faithfulness. Of course, all this happened without Job knowing that God had bragged about him and placed a divine bet on his continued faithfulness!

With the permission he had, Satan unleashed a barrage of attacks against Job.
Satan destroyed all the possessions of Job. In one day, Job was reduced from riches to rags. Satan also killed all of Job's children. Job was left with nothing.

There is one lesson we cannot ignore: Sometimes, the cost of following God faithfully can be very severe. True faithfulness to God attracts the anger of Satan and causes him to yearn for our destruction. A true disciple of Jesus Christ must understand that God's children are engaged in warfare with a vicious enemy whose sole aim is to tempt and test us so severely that we will give up our faith and have nothing to do with God!

Jesus Himself reminds us that we will have trials and sorrows in this world but we should be of good cheer because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Those trials could take a myriad of forms. It could be a trial on our jobs or businesses; it could be an assault from the enemy on our marriage, family, or children; it could be in the form of an illness; it could be in the form of false accusations against us.
There is simply no telling what the enemy will throw at us because of our faithfulness to God. The good news is that in the end God always wins if we stand steadfast in our faith and hang in with Him.
Sometimes the test can be very severe but hold on to the promise in Isaiah 43 that God will be with you through the fire and the raging waters.


Prayer: Father, I thank you for the reminder that the enemy can attack simply because of my faithfulness to you. Please help me to be steadfast in my faith; knowing that the enemy cannot attack me without him first going through you. Amen.