Job 14:1-22
Saturday, 27 April 2024
If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my relief comes. - Job 14:14
Job was going through one of the lowest points of his life, having lost his family, health and wealth. In his suffering, he laments the frailty and struggles of one’s short life in this world through the first half of the chapter. However, even in the midst of his despair, there is a glimmer of hope in Vs 14 when he looks to life beyond the grave.
‘If a man dies, will he live again?’ This is a profound question that many even today dwell on when faced with the loss of dear ones or in a near-death experience. For the world it is unfathomable, but for a Christian the answer is a confident ‘Yes’! For those who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ, resurrection is the greatest hope.
What is the source of a believer’s hope for eternity?
1. Jesus – the resurrection and life: During His earthly ministry, in John 11:25-26 Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” This was not a mere statement. Jesus’s declared His power over death and evidenced it by raising Lazarus from the grave four days after his burial. The Creator of life has the power to forgive our sins and restore our lives for eternity with God. Just as he asked Martha, today he is asking us, ‘Do you believe this?’
2. The saving work of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ the perfect God-man, lived among men and took upon Himself the penalty for our sins—death, suffered and died on the cross of Calvary, rose again victoriously the third day and is seated at the Father’s side interceding for us. With His precious blood He paid the price for our sins, death and separation from God, that all who believe in Him shall be saved. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) How can one receive this great gift of salvation and eternal life?—by faith! ‘..if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Rom 10:9-10)
3. Hope of resurrection for the believer: The resurrection of Jesus is our greatest hope of being united with God for eternity. ‘..He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.’ (2 Cor. 4:14). Jesus promises us in John 14:3 that He is preparing a place for us in the ‘Father’s house and He will come again to take us to be with Him. No matter what trials and tribulations we face in this world, it is light and momentary as we look heavenward to the greatest joy of being united with our Lord eternally. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Job’s confidence is that despite his present pain and suffering, his life, his hope and his future is in God. He says in Job 19:25-27, ‘Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I will see God,…’ Can this be our testimony as well?
Dear brother / sister, if you haven’t yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, today, may you trust in the saving work of the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ and experience true life in Him.
What wonders await us in yonder fair land?
The face of our Savior, the touch of His hand,
No tears and no crying, no sighs or despair,
For Jesus is waiting to welcome us there. — Kerr