Job 38:1-2
“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?”
Job made the same mistake that many people make who have experienced some sort of success in life. That mistake was that he became a legend in his own mind and forgot who really helped him to make it to the level of success he enjoyed. After Job’s friends wasted his time by foolishly accusing him of things of which he was not guilty, God stepped in and helped bring him back to reality.
A person loses reality when they forget their humanity and begin to think that they are infallible. I know, nobody will truly say this, but actions oftentimes prove different from what we say. Many people have lifted themselves so high in their own minds that God had to bring them back to reality. The only way we can be brought back to reality is by answering the questions God asked Job. We all need a daily reality check, and there are some questions we need to ask ourselves in order to do this.
First, who do you think you are without God? We are not self-existent. Without God we would not even be born. Yet, we must be reminded that we would never become anything without God. Throughout this chapter God asked Job, “Who?” God was trying to help him realize that he was nothing without God. Every person needs to take themselves off their pedestal, forget their titles and realize they are nothing without God. You must never get to the point where you start believing the titles and accolades that people say about you.
Second, where do you think you would be without God? Several times throughout this chapter God asked Job, “Where?” Have you ever stopped to realize where you would be if it were not for God? Friend, you may have arrived at a blessed location, but you had nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with God. If you are going to live in reality, you are going to have to remind yourself where you would be if it were not for God.
Third, what do you really think you could do without God? Several times throughout this chapter God asked Job, “Canst thou?” or “Hast thou?” God was trying to bring Job back to reality to realize that he could not have experienced his successes without God. You must never get to the point in your life where you think you could do it all by yourself. God has a way of bringing any of us back to reality to show us we cannot do it without Him. One of my common statements I say to people is, “It still takes God.” Don’t ever forget that! Many a person like Samson has said, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself…” (Judges 16:20), but after God dealt with them they came to the same reality that Samson and Job did and that was that it still takes God. Don’t ever get to the point where you think you could do what you have done without God. When you get to that point, God will do what He has to do to bring you back to reality.
We must never allow our pride to move us out of the world of reality. Friend, the best way to keep God from having to bring you back to reality is to daily bring yourself to reality by asking these three questions. It is when you honestly answer these questions and come back to reality that God can begin to bless you.