After Job’s hardships took hold of his life, he was visited by a few friends, who came to counsel the righteous man to repent of a sin he had not done, to stop God from punishing him (even though it wasn’t God doing the punishing). Early into their discussion, one of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, makes this remark:

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? 

 (Job 4:7)

“Whoever perished being innocent?” Eliphaz asks, as though his question has an understood answer. He would have Job say “no one.” He would have us believe that no good person has ever died being innocent. Apparently, he did not know about Abel being killed by Cain!

Eliphaz says the righteous aren’t cut off by God, the wicked are. God is the Judge so if troubles befall someone, that must be a sign that they have been found guilty by the Judge, and punished in due course. I believe Eliphaz means well. There’s no reason to think he is operating as a purposeful agent of the Devil. That said, he is operating as an unintended agent of the Devil. Satan wants us to think that the only reason a person suffers is because of sin. Why would he want that? Isn’t he reason why men sin (due to his temptations)? Why would he want us associating sin with suffering? It’s because he knows he can convince a sinner to ignore the consequences that will come with his sinful actions. That’s not his goal here. His goal is to cause the righteous to suffer, causing them to doubt God.

Satan uses the carrot and the stick. The carrot is the enticing pleasure of worldliness. He uses that to draw sinners into his web. The stick is the harsh abuse this world can dish out on God’s people.

Satan doesn’t want you thinking about tomorrow.

Satan doesn’t want a sinner thinking about the eternal suffering that comes with sin. He wants sinners enjoying pleasure now and not worrying about punishment tomorrow. On the other hand, for saints, he wants them suffering now. He wants you suffering so much you don’t think about the bliss God has promised you tomorrow.

Satan doesn’t want you thinking about tomorrow. He wants you fixated on everything he is giving you today, be it suffering or pleasure. God, on the other hand, wants us to have a little perspective. There is a great, eternal “tomorrow” coming some day. We need to be ready for it.

~Matthew