Salvation in Jesus Christ is not something quick and superficial. The work that Christ does in someone who truly loves Him is radical and includes everything. He reaches into the deepest and most secret parts of our heart, and He judges our thoughts and motives so that something entirely new can grow there. This work means a total transformation from everything that is corrupted and evil to something that is only pure and godly.
We all understand that such a glorious work does not happen by just wishing to be a better person. No, it takes an inner revolution, a new and purified heart—not just something that happens only once, but many times throughout life!
God’s work with Job
Even though Job was an unusually righteous man, he had to be given special treatment if God was going to do an eternal work in him. The tests he had to go through worked a great humbling in him. Job and his friends had many ideas and opinions about all this treatment, much of which is true and edifying. Elihu especially had many good things to say even though he was very young. But what had the greatest impact on Job was when God Himself spoke to him “out of the whirlwind” right into his heart. His words were so powerful that something happened deep in Job’s heart, and he was never the same person afterwards.
God’s message wasn’t difficult to understand. God asked him about two things. He wanted to know where Job was when He created the heavens and the earth, and if he knew the answer to some mysteries. (Job 38 and 39.) Job couldn’t answer any of it. Instead of saying much, Job began to get light over himself. He put his hand on his mouth and was quiet.
Then God spoke again and told him about two animals: the hippopotamus “which I made along with you … See now, his strength … and his power …” And the crocodile, “strength dwells in his neck … on earth there is nothing like him …” Job 40:15-16; Job 41:22,33. Both these animals are exceedingly strong; they don’t bow or give in to anything or anyone. It’s clear that God was not concerned about the animals; He was thinking of Job. Therefore, God concluded His message to Job with these important words: “He looks down on everything that is high; he rules over every kind of pride." Job 41:34 (ISV).
Transformation through humility
These words worked powerfully in Job’s heart. Before, he had only heard about God. Now he began to see, and he understood who God was and who he was compared to God. “I know, LORD, that you are all-powerful; that you can do everything you want ... So I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2,6 (GNT).
These truths are so simple. We learn about them in Sunday school—who God is and who I am. Didn’t Job understand this before? Of course he did in some way. He said himself that he had heard about these things and had understood them in part, but the fact was that they had not come so deeply into his heart that they transformed his whole being. They had not worked an inner revolution in his life! They had not changed his view of himself, his wife, his friends, situations, trials, and all the circumstances which God in His goodness sent his way.
It took a great humbling under God’s mighty hand before Job’s inner ear could be properly opened to God’s voice and he got light over who he really was. But when this happened, Job was an entirely new person. We must therefore thank God for all trials and humbling circumstances that He sends our way, because salvation is impossible without them.
I cannot be transformed to be like Christ by just changing my outward behaviour or by living a “good outward Christian life”. No, I am transformed when I humble myself from the heart under God’s mighty hand, listen to the truth about myself and admit it from my heart, without explaining it away or excuses. Then God writes His laws and commandments into my heart so thoroughly that I want to obey them wholeheartedly!
All transformation happens in the heart! That is why Jesus said, “First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” Matthew 23:26 (NLT), and: “But the words you speak come from the heart.” Matthew 15:18 (NLT).