“I know that my Redeemer lives!” (Job 19:25)
We just celebrated Easter, exulting in the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and lives at the right hand of God. He is our living LORD!! This is the good news of the Gospel, but maybe in the reality of your actual life, this good news doesn’t always seem to be enough?
Do you know about the Job of the Bible? Job experienced terrible physical pain, absolute financial ruin, and the tragic deaths of all his children at the hand of Satan. I honestly have never known anyone who has had it worse than Job; he lost everything except for his wife and a few “friends.” And for the first half of the book about him, Job in utter misery cursed the day of his birth, complained about his problems, and wished for death; in fact, he said he wished he had never been born. This is a picture of someone who is completely hopeless (he said his spirit was broken). Perhaps you can identify with Job, at least at some level. To add to Job’s problems, his friends tried to “counsel” him and just made it worse. Maybe you can even identify with that.
However, about halfway through the book, Job arrives at this wonderful statement of faith: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).
When Job acknowledged his trust in God and proclaimed the sovereignty of God, his life changed. In the end, Job’s fortunes were restored. Not all of us start out rich, and even if we trust in God we may not end up with earthly riches. But when we trust in God and acknowledge that our Redeemer lives and that He holds our future in his hands, we will have the life that God intends for us, and it will be worth living. The words of this song by Matt Maher speak to this truth. Read this (click on the link to hear it).
I believe in the Son
I believe in the risen One
I believe I overcome
By the power of His blood
I was dead in the grave
I was covered in sin and shame
I heard mercy call my name
He rolled the stone away
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life my future in His hands
Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives
Because He lives!
I pray that you will know the perfect peace that comes from really knowing your living Savior and trusting in Him. Amen.
In Christ,
Judy
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