Job: The Big Picture

Job: The Big Picture
Job 1-2


Intro:

Kurt Cobain ended his life about 10 years ago (4/1994). filled with bitterness and anger. He was the founder and lead singer of the group "Nirvana." His violent suicide prompted a lot of questions. "Why? He had it all…a great career, dedicated fans, plenty of money, a beautiful wife and a 19 month old daughter…So why did he kill himself?"

To many it made no sense. But Kurt Cobain simply lived out his beliefs to their logical conclusion. He was a professed humanist and nihilist. He believed that there was no God and there was no meaning or purpose to life. He was the center of his own universe, and he was bitter so why stick around. His poetry (music) clearly showed what he believed. Kurt Cobain pioneered grunge rock, which has given us the alternative rock of today. This music is opposed to anything mainstream.

Cobain was very vocal about his bitterness from being a child of divorce and moved from house to house and eventually without a home. He felt that life was rotten and meaningless and his music often spoke of his anger and disillusionment. One of his songs was called "Nevermind." Its recurring line was "Oh well, whatever, nevermind." Another song that he wrote was never released because it was too objectionable. It was called, "I Hate Myself, And I Want To Die." That’s bitterness.

Friends of Cobain say he often acted without reason. He was constantly on an emotional roller coaster. But his dips into despair got deeper and deeper. Once, a member of his road crew asked him why he was moping around so much.
Cobain replied, "I’m awake, aren’t I?"

Cobain had no idea he was in the midst of a spiritual battle. He believed the lies of Satan: nihilism. He had passion, but for nothing. He had a void in his heart that nothing he pursued could fill, and he believed that nothing could or ever would.
He had no purpose, no meaning, so he played it out to its logical conclusion, death (Edited from Scott Weber, Sermon Central).

Transition:
Over the next few months, we are going to take a look at a man who went from riches to rags to riches again in a very short period of time. We are going to look at a man who had it all… a man who had tremendous faith… a man who’s faith was tested… a man who’s faith was placed on trial before God and man. The man’s name is Job.

A few weeks ago, tragedy struck in Asia when the killer Tsunami claimed over 155,000 lives. As I watched CNN and Fox News, I noticed that many trees were twisted, gnarled and wrenched from the earth. Telephone poles had snapped like toothpicks… walls had collapsed and water engulfed the land. Only solid foundations can survive the fury and onslaught of a hurricane or in this case… a Tsunami.


Several things came to mind as I watched the News reports of the utter destruction and devastation:

1. One moment, you can be enjoying life. Things seem to be calm and under control. Your worries may be minimal and your relationships are satisfying. Your spiritual walk seems so deep and intimate with God.
2. The next minute, the life that seemed so good, so right, so blessed by God, is now leaving you dazed and confused.
3. There comes a time in every life that all hell breaks loose.
4. Tragedy usually comes suddenly… unexpectedly… cataclysmically.
5. Suffering wears many masks.
a. Lost job
b. Business adventure