I Know That My Redeemer Lives

JOB 19:25-27
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
”‭‭Job‬ ‭19:25-27‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/job.19.25-27.nkj

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Job said, “after my skin is destroyed, I know this, That in my flesh I shall see God.” Yet to him, in the face of all the disaster that came upon him, it must have seemed like this would be the most unlikely outcome, especially when you consider, he did not know of the conference between God and Satan (JOB 6-12).
He believed that God brought about all these disasters upon him one after another. Yet even as he faced death and decay, struggling with the idea that God was presently against him, he firmly believed that God would save him in the end.
We believers often feel like God is against us, but we do not know what challenges have been placed before us instigated by the devil.
But what we must understand, is that without these trials and challenges, we would never grow in Christ.
Job’s belief was solid and he was one of the first to speak of the resurrection of the body (see also PSALM 16:10; ISAIAH 26:19; DANIEL 12:2,13).
In ancient Israel, a redeemer was a family member who bought a slave away to freedom or who took care of a widow (RUTH :2:20).
We come into this world destined to die because of sin, like we inherited it, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”.
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But because our redeemer paid for our sins with His own blood, we are no longer slaves to sin, and because He lives, for He was risen, we all have the confident hope that like Job, even after our skin is destroyed, That in my flesh I will see God.
God’s grace does not override justice, if it did Jesus would of had no reason to take our place on a cross to pay for our sin.
There will always be consequences for our actions, good and evil. Therefore we must repent of all sin; that is to turn away from our sinful nature, toward God.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
As we face our daily trials and challenges, it can seem like God has abandoned us or is even against us, but the truth is quite the opposite.
He uses our trials to test and build our faith; to change the way in which we think that we become more Christ like in our decisions and responses.
Therefore, James tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
I encourage you, whatever life is throwing at you, God is using it for your good (ROMANS 8:28).
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
We must choose our direction; it is either “God’s” way, or “my” way, which ultimately shall go against God’s will.
If we choose to walk with God, we shall receive David’s promise.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But if we go our own way, we shall come against God, and shall pay the consequences of that.
We cannot manipulate God, nor we cannot bend His will to fit in with our lives.
“There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, you are free to choose your own way, but God will not go with you.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Only Jesus can walk you safely through the valley of the shadow of death to the ultimate victory.
While life can be challenging, we believers can rejoice in the fact that our redeemer lives and that our names are written in the book of life.
We can rejoice for our future is sealed by the in dwelling Holy Sprirt (2 CORINTHIANS 1:22; EPHESIANS 1:14).
The struggles of this life are temporary and we believers have the confident hope that the best is yet to come.
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
This is the future God has promised His people, a wonderful future where there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no pain or suffering, And God Himself will wipe away the tears from our eyes.
This is a future well worth waiting for.
No one can earn it or purchase it; it is a free gift to all who believe on Christ Jesus.
“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.