I Know My Redeemer Lives

Job 19:23-27 (ESV)
23 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!


We live in a crazy, busy world! With all the things going on at work, at school and church, it is very easy to lose sight of the really important things in life. I/m somewhat of an adrenaline junkie, and seem to operate better when things are on the edge of disaster. If I have an assignment with a deadline, I will often wait till the last minute to get the thing done. It's like I enjoy the pressure.


But does God want us to live these out of control, on the edge lives? My answer is "I don't know!" God made us all unique so there probably isn't a "one size fits all" answer. I can learn something about handling life, though, from our friend Job. Job's world is totally crashing. Nothing is going his way. Everyone thinks he's a failure and that his failures have brought all this doom into his life. He doesn't have much to be cheery about! He wasa very wealthy and successful man who "lost it all". If I had been Job, I would have been determined to overcome all these obstacles and prove everyone wrong!


It's a good thing Job isn't like me, otherwise we wouldn't have this great example to learn from. Job didn't try to fix everything on his own. He examined himself, was honest with himself, and turned to God. He put his confidence in what he couldn't see with his eyes, but with spiritual eyes he knew the most important thing: "I know my redeemer lives! I know at the last He will stand upon the earth and in my flesh I will see God!"


Don't let the craziness of your life hide the truth that we should walk in as a child of God. If you feel things are spiraling downward, stop and asses your own life. Be honest. Am I pursuing my relationship with God or have I been too busy? Take a step back and realize that our only hope is in God and stand on His Word. Even though this life deals me hard stuff, I know my Redeemer lives!