"If a man dies, will he live again? ... All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes. You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands ... 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 shall see God" Job 14:14-15; 19:25,26
The saying goes, the only thing certain in life is death and taxes. At least death is a reprieve from taxes, but is death final? As Job memorably ponders: If a man dies, will he live again?
The fact of death is hardly an encouraging topic to begin our day with, but it is an undeniable truth. Life in 100% fatal. Actually, that figure is closer to 99.99999999999% because of one very notable exception: "I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
That minuscule percentage point in reality completely negates the vastly larger percentage. Life is still 100% fatal for all but that One, but thanks to His resurrection it is not 100% final. Under inspiration, Job saw the death of death when God would long for the work of His hands, and would stand upon the earth to be viewed by those clothed in new resurrection bodies.
The fact of death is a burdensome sentence that hangs over each of us, but the triumph of Christ's resurrection assures us of the most hopeful outcome possible. Resurrection makes sense of the nonsense of death. And, some of that resurrection power trickles down today to give a preliminary sense of what is to come (Philippians 3:10).
The empty tomb of Jesus is the answer to Job's searching question. May that answer bring peace and power to us today as we await the day when our change comes.
©Steve Taylor, 2022 --Used by permission
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“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith” Hebrews 13:7.