Job and his family were among the first ones Resurrected, globally. Paradise was still in its first century. They were taught that eventually almost everyone who had ever lived would be Returned, and taught the Truth. Arit had to admit, there were a few people he was waiting to see again.
But that would come after. The Gold Letters stopped coming for a while, and the world rejoiced to know that every man and woman who had been a faithful servant of Jehovah was now alive and well, sharing the world with nobody else, for the first time in history. There was a celebration that lasted for months.
The Celebration culminated in a Convention that would be shown to the whole world. The ‘famous faces’ of the Bible were all invited to be in attendance, telling their story from their own perspective to the audience. Some were uncomfortable with public speaking even now, and while they were seated in the front section of the amphitheater, some of their testimony was pre-recorded in more comfortable settings.
The telling of the Bible story by the people who were there to see it took days. It was carried out chronologically. Some of the more prominent names, like Moses, or David, or Elijah, had people to speak on their behalf, sharing what their experiences had meant at the time they happened, and not just to future generations.
The Kings and Prophets of Israel had many to speak for them. Job was a well respected patriarch, though he’d held no official title. Job spoke for himself, from the stage, sharing the details that hadn’t made it into the Bible record.
“My time of trial was… the worst time of my life. Indeed, it changed the course of my life in many ways.” Job told the audience, his words transmitted globally. “When I read about the life stories of people throughout history that have endured persecution, physical danger, even from their own family; and lifelong health problems that my generation had no name for; it’s important to remember that I am far from the only example of endurance. Indeed, many of the people who have sent me letters, thanking me for my example? Almost all of them had to endure suffering for much longer than I did.”
When his talk was over, Job accepted the applause of the crowd graciously, returning to his seat in the front section of the audience. Many of the Gold Letters were assembled there, famous names from the Scriptures; now returned, and united with all the generations.
As one of the speakers, Arit stepped up to the microphone, eager to share his part. “You have all heard the story of Job, no doubt many times in your life.” Arit wrapped up the symposium. “Today, you all heard it from the man himself. Certainly, as his servant, even his servant in exile; I never expected this. No matter how much I honored and loved Job; none of us thought he would be praised for thousands of years, in billions of homes. He was, and is, a great example to follow, but until recently, you all knew more about what happened to him, and why, than any of us did while we were living it.”
There was a murmur of assent from the audience.
“Job was always aware of his duty never to stumble another. Indeed, in our time, the way we acted was the only form of teaching about Jehovah we could offer to most people.” Arit continued. “But almost everyone I’ve met in this Paradise has mentioned how they took comfort from his example of just… holding on. Whatever else you can do, even when you can’t get out of bed in the morning, you just hold on.” He looked out over the crowd. “If anyone here can say that Job’s story gave them the courage to do the same, please stand up now, so that-”
Across the huge audience, hundreds of people had already jumped to their feet, eager to show solidarity.
Arit glanced at Job, sitting in the front section with his children, as he looked back at the amphitheater. Arit spoke again. “And if you took comfort from knowing that his trials were not from Jehovah, no matter what he was told; and that knowledge helped you overcome your own doubts about God’s Love…”
Many more people stood up, the sound of it echoing through the auditorium.
Arit nodded, eyes shining. “And those of you lucky enough to not go through such times of extreme trial; if you still found something in his story that helped you to make it through your days of… uncertainty, discouragement, feelings of worthlessness… If you’d like to express your own appreciation or admiration for this fellow, faithful servant of Jehovah…”
And every single person in the stadium rose to their feet, all at once. So did many of the Gold Letters, including Job’s family. The Patriarch himself, a little overwhelmed, looked around at the hundreds of thousands standing in solidarity with him.
Nobody noticed it, but in an unassuming corner of the stadium, a young Boy in a white tunic, with a guitar slung across his back, was the first one to start clapping. The whole audience took it up instantly. It grew, and grew until there was a roar of approval that shook the whole stadium, repeated across all the other meeting sites, watching the program all across the world.
Father, The Boy prayed. There are hundreds of others being honored this day, and still more to come in the future. I was blessed to be present for many of them, if not all. These men and women are being honored now for their own days of service to You and Your purpose. Thank You for the privilege I’ve had all this time. I remember all their names, just as You do. I’m glad the world gets to hear all their stories now. May nobody ever fear their good works have been worthless, or unnoticed.
Nobody noticed the Boy slip quietly out of the auditorium, smiling as he went.
The audience had been applauding and cheering ecstatically between many such ‘life stories’, but this moment was all for Job. The weeks of agonizing endurance had gained him a lifetime of blessings, but this was something he’d never had. The whole world taking a moment to appreciate the example he had set, when he had been his most alone.
Arit had plenty of time to wait for the applause to die down, and he couldn’t help but use the moment to give thanks of his own. Jehovah God, he prayed, direct from the stage. Thank you for my life, thank you for giving it back to me. Thank you that all the good we tried to do has never been forgotten, by You above all else. Thank you that even the smallest of gestures, given sincerely, has value. Thank you for the strength You gave us, so that we could make it here.
Thank you for everything You do for us, even the things we don’t know about.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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