Job 14: 1Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 19: 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Job makes different statements here. In Chapter 14 we see his human side. He realizes his mortality and what is against him. In all his comforts he knew the teachings of human mortality, but now he experienced it in reality. What had never touched him before came home. Once he had been one who thought that bad things happen to others, “not me.” Now he knew better.
Guess what. They happen to us too. Hard times come. Our human nature, our Adam body, our spiritual condition, and the Tempter who works on us are real. We cannot beat them. Sin is a reality. The devil is real, and we can’t beat him. We can’t stop the hands of time on our body. We can spend a lot of money on products to hide the aging process, but the clock keeps ticking. None of us is exempt. We have an allotted time to live. Life pushes us on. We can’t escape it, but thank God for One who did beat it. He beat Satan; he beat death and human nature. He won the victory!
Job admitted his weaknesses in chapter 14. He admitted that God knew all about him, good and bad. Sometimes we get so used to doing things the wrong way that we don’t pay attention to what God thinks. He pays attention. When Job was touched with loss and grief, when sickness came his way, he realized how much of a sinner he was. Sin is the curse that drags us down. The devil knows when and how to accuse us. He knows how to get to us physically and emotionally. Jesus overcame, and we need to trust him. Our Redeemer is immortal. Things that we look to for security are slipping away. Things in the body don’t work as well as they used to. We don’t control our life, and we need someone to the reins of control and help us. To do that, he must have the reins of our soul.
Job was wise. The Bible says he eschewed evil—he hated it. However, he came to realize he could fail. He needed help just like everyone else. It’s easy to see what others need, but it is so hard for us to realize our needs until life sets in on us full force. When the devil begins to push our buttons, we realize how little we are. Job felt his weakness. He lost his wealth, his family, his health, and his wife turned on him. His friends were unfeeling and criticized him. It’s going to happen to you. Life will move on. Job was succumbing to what was happening. I don’t care how long you’ve lived for the Lord. Depression can hit. You can get weak and lose faith. We’re not too good for it to happen to us. Jesus was tempted at every turn. Who are we to think we’re above being treated the same way?
The reality of life is our own mortality. Fall has brought the west wind in and taken the summer leaves. The year is dying. If your hope is planted in this world, you know it’s coming apart. Job asked if a man dies, where is he? Regardless of who Job was, he was just another human being. We’re all various ages; we look different. We all have one thing in common: we’re human beings. What we have can be gone in a moment. It’s not about “one of these days a long way off.” We’re mortal humans in need of help now. If the book of Job ended here, we’d be hurting.
In Chapter 19 we find Job wrapped in assurance. He said for I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Though he was losing everything, he knew one thing. He had a Redeemer. Jesus took your place and stands ready to be a Redeemer for you. If you haven’t turned your life over to the Lord, it’s time to do so. You cannot redeem yourself. You may live in a home like Fort Knox, but it can’t keep death out. It can’t keep the devil out.
Redeem means to buy back. We were born human beings. The clock is ticking and time is running out. The only one who can buy us out of the predicament we’re in is God. We cannot buy an extra minute for ourselves. Job said I know my Redeemer liveth. Here he was suffering, but he knew God was real. Do you know that your Redeemer lives? Yes you do. Do you know that he lives within your being? Is he between you and your sins? This is what changes everything. Trust Jesus. He’s the one who said he that believeth in me shall never die. I want to trust him.
Jesus knows we’re mortals in need of a Redeemer. He’s willing to stand. An end will come of sin, this world, Satan, and our temporary life. When it’s over, Jesus will be standing strong. We shall see God. Job wasn’t worried about how. He knew Jesus made life worth living even in its suffering. Jesus makes death worth dying. Though suffering, Job rejoiced. Though dying, he was just getting started. He realized that his last breath really wasn’t his last. You may feel beaten down, but remember that Jesus is not beaten. He is victorious.
Is Jesus your life? If he your Redeemer? In order for him to be, it must be from your heart and soul. Like it or not, you are mortal. Like it or not, you have a Redeemer. It’s time to make a statement and make him your Redeemer. When all else fails, Jesus will still be standing. We can stand with him if we trust in him.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 