I Know My Redeemer Lives!
What a blessing when you reflect on the words that Job gave to his friends after they had ridiculed him and told him in no uncertain terms that he was a sinner being punished by God for his sins:
"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
26 And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!
27 I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:25-27 (NLT)
In spite of losing his children, his wealth, and his health Job was able to say that he knew that his redeemer lives! Job knew that his redeemer didn’t live because He was blessing the socks off of Job, He lived because He is! It didn’t take the rest of the Old Testament or the New for that revelation to come, for God was always, is now, and is to come. He doesn’t just prove Himself to us by pouring out houses and land and riches untold. He is the Supreme mover behind everything, He spoke everything into creation from eternity past and into eternity to come. He is the underlying power breathing life and beauty and talents and gifts into us all. He bestows upon us our life, and then gives us a choice as to how we will live it. Yet He longs to be our Lord, to guide us into a certain future. Most of all and best of all He is our Redeemer. The One who said, "I’ll take the penalty on me for everything that they owe in penance to a Holy God." He did not let anything we’ve done keep us from performing that redemptive act.
Therefore when Job says, "I know my redeemer lives", He wasn’t just hoping, he knew for a surety that there was an unseen, yet very real love that was motivating Him to continue to push pass the pain, the sorrow, the humiliation provided by his friends. He had a few more days to journey before that love spoke to Him and actually illustrated through His life what that redemption looks like, while he yet lived!
It might be like that in your life today. You might be undergoing something that is so horrific that you wonder if it will ever end. Your friends might be mocking you saying that you must have sinned for God to have rejected you like this. Yet, His love never fails, His footsteps are the one set you see in the sand during your darkest trial, for He is carrying you. Be carried into your destiny by His redemptive arms of mercy.
Maria