I know that I will live

Oh, that my words were written!
Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
That they were engraved on a rock
With an iron pen and lead, forever!
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 19.23-27

Not only did Job have confidence that his redeemer was a alive and that one day his redeemer would live and stand on the earth he also had the faith that even after his old body was destroyed he would have a new body and that in his new body he would literally see God.

The implications of this statement of faith are staggering. In this day before the Law and before the church and before the Bible Job had amazing trusting faith. He knew that when his struggles were done God would still be there. He knew that even if God killed him he would still see God face to face.

It challenges me that Job had that kind of faith without all the benefits I have. I have the word of God, the history of the church, the testimony of saints alive and dead, and still I wonder if I have the faith of Job.

I know that my redeemer is alive and I know that when I die my redeemer will still be alive and that I too will see my redeemer face to face.

Fanny Crosby spoke beautifully of this moment when she wrote - Face to face—oh, blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.

No matter what troubles we may face here we, like Job,  can look forward to the glorious hope of seeing our Saviour in the flesh.

I certainly agree with the last words of Job above – ‘how my heart yearns within me’ for that day.