Everything Will Be OK in the End

Then Job replied to God … “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1, 5-6)

Hi Fighter,

We have reached the end of the Book of Job. Over these last four weeks we have followed Job’s tumultuous journey.

From being a tall poppy, Job descended to become a beggar on an ash-heap.
Job screamed, cursed and argued, demanding an explanation from God.
God spoke to Job, telling him there was no straightforward explanation.
Job returned to the ash-heap, knowing his place.

This is the core of the Book of Job, but there is both an introduction and an epilogue that are often overlooked. The epilogue is only seven verses long, but it gives Job’s story a happy ending. The man who lost everything, somehow regained everything!

“And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job …, and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

Not only does Job become wealthy again but he fathers another seven children – the same number that he tragically lost at the outset of the story. Job’s new children include three daughters whom we’re told were particularly beautiful. Job’s daughters are named, and we are told they were given an inheritance, which seems all very progressive. Job then lives to a great old age and dies ‘full of years’ (Job 42:17).

Modern commentators tend to be cynical about this ‘Hollywood Ending’ to the story, and are quick to point out that having children in your old age doesn’t compensate for seeing all your older children killed. I think these people miss the point. All ends well for Job because all must end well, for this is the core message of our Scriptures!

The Bible is a big book, and it includes a lot of stories. In essence though, it is one story – a story that takes us from a garden (Eden) to a city (the New Jerusalem). It is the story of human history, and the key thing about this story is that it ends well.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and God will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

This is the story of the Bible, and it is the essence of Jesus’ message. Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). All will soon be well. God’s Kingdom is almost here. Every tear will soon be wiped away, and “the earth will be as full of the knowledge fo the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

Of course, the joy experienced by Job in his old age did not wipe out the pain he experienced earlier in his life. Even having three beautiful daughters (a privilege I share with Job) can never compensate for the loss of your other children. We know this, and when we think about the pain being experienced in Gaza and Lebanon at the moment, we know that nothing will ever take away their pain either. Even so, death need not have the final word. Things will end well. God’s final word is LIFE!

“Everything Will Be OK in the End, and if It’s Not OK It’s Not the End”. Father Mark shared that aphorism on our Sunday Eucharist a few weeks back. Its often attributed to John Lennon, though I thought it went back to Paul Coelho. Subsequent research suggests no one is quite sure who said it first, but I suspect it was Jesus, and even if he didn’t use those exact words, it was the heart of His message.

All will be well in the end. As it was for Job, so will it be for the people of Gaza and Lebanon, and so will it be for us all. This is our faith. This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Our Sunday Eucharist

We celebrated another wonderful Eucharist last Sunday. Thank you to my good friends, Karyn Hemming and Andrew Logan, for joining me on the panel, and thank you to everybody who participated.

There was plenty of wisdom circulating in our discussion on the Book of Job last Sunday, and I’ve extracted a couple of video shorts below. I’ve also pasted below a video that I intend to use to introduce our broadcast each week as we go live. It’s a 1.5-minute compilation of snippets from our broadcasts over the last few years. All our key people are featured there, with Father Ola providing the background music. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 😊

This Sunday I’m looking forward to having my old friends, Andrew Madry and Doug Pyeatt, back with me on the panel, and we also have a special guest – Dr Aaron Kheriaty – contributing a pre-recorded homily on the Letter to the Hebrews.

Dr Kheriaty is a physician specialising in psychiatry, and is the author of three books, including, The New Abnormal: The Rise of the Biomedical Security State. I’ve been reading Aaron’s substack for some years now. He’s been a mighty warrior for the freedom movement over the last few years and is also a mighty man of God! 🥊

If you don’t know Aaron, check out www.aaronkheriaty.com and then join us Sunday from noon at TheSundayEucharist.com or on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn or Streamyard. I look forward to sharing this Eucharist with you very much.

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What’s On?

Saturday, October 26^th – Boxing at Fadi’s Gym in Fivedock from 8.30 am
Sunday, October 27^th– Our Eucharist from noon via thesundayeucharist.com (or through Facebook , YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn or Streamyard).
Tuesday, October 29^th – Boxing at The Mundine Gym in Redfern from 7 pm
Friday, November 1^st – Dave vs. Paul Covi for the MBI World Championship Perpetual Belt @ the Pan-Pacific Master’s Games on the Gold Coast
Saturday, November 9^th–Father Dave vs. Tony Brazier for the. NSW Professional Masters Title @Cowra Showground

with the Masters team from No Quarter Gym

I’m afraid I’m skipping my normal boxing session next Thursday as I’ll be flying to Queensland Wednesday morning to prepare for Friday’s fight. I’ll be MIA the following Thursday as well as I’ll be driving to Corwa on the Wednesday in preparation for the second fight. I am told that the first fight is for both a regional and world title. I still find that hard to believe. I guess we’ll know more in a week’s time.

I’ve watched videos of both my opponents. I expect to win both fights. Of course, nothing is sure in boxing, and if things go wrong and I get knocked down in the first fight, I won’t be allowed to compete in the second. Say a prayer for me, please. You don’t have to pray for me to win but do pray for the safety of all involved and pray that these bouts might contribute something to the cause. Pray that whatever funds and publicity we generate will serve the greater mission.

With my boxing, as with all of life, I have to believe that it will all end well. That’s not to suggest that I’m somehow immune from being hurt or killed in the ring. As we learn from Job, bad things happen to the best of us. Even so, I do believe that, whatever happens, all will be well in the end. God’s will WILL be done. Justice will triumph. His Kingdom will come.

Your brother in the Good Fight,