His sides are filled with fat,
And the marrow of his bones is wet,
While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even tasting anything good.
Together they lie down in the dust,
And maggots cover them. (vv. 24-26)

In this chapter, Job reflects on the lives of the wicked and the blameless. The wicked seem to prosper, while the blameless receive no reward. Neither can escape death. Job speaks as though there is no point in keeping the law or living a blameless life.

The Book of Job is a story rich in wisdom. It is one of the Wisdom Books in the Bible and raises profound questions about life on earth.

Is there truly no point in keeping the law and striving to live a moral life? God punishes all, for no one can fully meet His demands. Job speaks as if it would be better to live the life of the wicked than the one he has tried to live.

I repeat these thoughts again and again because the answer to Job’s question is simple—yet, in real life, we often fail to see it. In Christianity, the central message is the Kingdom of God. Every word written in the Bible points to that Kingdom.

Many believe in Christ so that their sins may be forgiven and they will not go to hell. They believe in Him to gain entry into heaven after death. Since Christ’s sacrifice, this has become the dominant message. However, many have forgotten—or turned a blind eye to—the true reason Christ became a man.

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

Without preaching about the Kingdom, ministers cannot preach the true gospel. I see that many ministers have become more like counselors to their church members, spending much of their time going from house to house, listening to personal problems. While we live on earth, our true life begins when the Kingdom comes. Our hope is placed entirely in that Kingdom. As we live in this world, we face various trials and challenges. Through them, we are trained as children of God.

Many churches today are no longer preaching about the coming Kingdom. They have become merely social communities. People participate in various activities together, but these do not bring true satisfaction. Some do these things believing that good works will earn them points to enter heaven. Others seek praise from fellow church members. Many are obsessed with church office roles, thinking those roles guarantee entry into heaven. Anyone who speaks the truth in churches often becomes unpopular because they speak of things others do not understand or do not want to hear.

In some ways, Job’s words ring true: the wicked prosper, and people who strive to keep the law fall short. God punishes both, because no one is truly righteous. When it comes to earthly prosperity, it can seem as though living a lawless life is better, since keeping the law appears to offer no benefit. Job speaks this way because he does not yet understand what true righteousness is.

God does indeed save the righteous. But who are the righteous? The righteous are those who are united with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Are they blameless in terms of morality? No, they are not. Yet, they are declared blameless and righteous because God has promised to forgive their sins and give them a new heart.

They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

So how should we live a life as God’s child? Should we go back to our old ways as a dog returns to its own vomit?

It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22)