By Brenda Cannon Henley
When my son, Senior Pastor Brent Stancil, of Community Bible Baptist Church, announced his morning text from the big flat bed of a huge truck, I was surprised. The big truck was faced by 51 beautiful Easter lilies and the sound system was perfection. A FM radio transmitter sent the music notes and words being spoken clearly into each vehicle during our first ever Drive In Church. Each car was parked carefully on distinctly measured six-foot spaces and no one was allowed out of their personal vehicle except for the eight people on the stage.

Such waving and motions were witnessed, broken by thrown kisses in the air, and the occasional child or infant being held up for inspection and distant love. Our people had not met together for the past three weeks, other than by way of online services and Zoom meetings due to COVID-19 and strict rules implemented. It was a happy crowd by all accounts.

One gentleman came up with the idea of blowing the car horn to substitute for his normal “amen” at appropriate junctures. The church members were gentle on the horns out of respect for the local residents.

Most Easter messages are traditionally taught out of the Gospels with a clear account of the crucifixion of Christ, his burial, his resurrection from the borrowed tomb, his message to Mary Magdalene to go and tell his disciples he was alive indeed. In fact, I have written and taught many times that I believe the greatest message ever given to anyone was that early morning message to Mary that he was alive as he had said.

And, so, when Brent asked us to turn to Job 19 in our Bibles, I thought, “What is he up to this morning?” I soon found out. When Bible students traditionally think of the Book of Job, we envision trouble, sadness, loss, suffering, despondency, and the question is often asked, “Why do good people have bad things happen to them?”

We know Job was a good man from studying the Scripture. We know he was a wealthy man, a husband, a father, and an employer with crops and animals. We also read that Satan wanted to attack Job. The Bible clearly states that he was perfect, upright, and one that feared God and hated evil. God allowed Satan to come after Job, but not to kill him.

The story is super interesting and would rival a good super hero plot or action movie. I invite you to carefully read the book of Job and discover what happens to him, the losses he endures, including the seven sons and three daughters, and his wife turning on him. His friends taunted him as he lost his wealth, assets, and even when sore boils broke out on his body.

Brent outlined the chapters in the following manner:

I. Bankrupt of his finances
II. Bereaved of his family
III. Belittled by his friends
IV. Broken in his frame

But Job was not a quitter. He did not lose his solid, foundational faith. He still believed in the God he trusted. “Yet, will I serve God.”

In fact, Job believed so strongly in the God that he served, he said:

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27)

“…in my flesh shall I see God. I will see him for myself.” And therein was our Easter message. Jesus had to rise from that cold, stony tomb for Job to believe he would see him for himself.

The complete story is in this wonderful old book of the Bible if we will take time to dig it out. We will also discover that Job was rewarded with twice as much of everything as he had lost.

Christ is risen, indeed.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, or
[email protected]

[April-13-2020]