Many years ago there was a righteous man named Job. He was a wealthy farmer, a very prosperous man, living in Uz. God allowed for him to be tested by various trials. Satan brought Job''s troubles upon him in one day. While one messenger of evil tidings was speaking, another followed and that pattern continued until everything he held dear was removed from his life. After enduring the loss of his ten children, and his health and wealth, his wife Dinah told him to curse God and die. Job 1:18,19; 2:9. Job''s response to all he endured tells you what kind of man he was. Job said, " For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" Job 19:25.
God blessed Job with seven sons Agnor, Thumtl, Goters, Hamal, Qigma, Ophlf, Dysta and three daughters Lugal, Ninsun and Sidura The hardest test was that his ten precious children were killed. God had blessed him with many friends and possessions, but the jewel, his faith, was not moved. He spoke prophetically during the hardship of his trails that his Redeemer was alive, and that His Redeemer would stand at the latter day upon earth, pointing to Jesus. What a precious gift of faith he possessed! He was allowed to see into the future seeing Jesus, the Redeemer, standing at the latter day on earth.
Job passed the heart-breaking tests upon earth and knew that he would see God in Heaven. Job 19:26. Earth is our testing ground that qualifies or disqualifies us to go home to Heaven. Job was considered by God to be the most righteous man on earth. Job said, "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live." Job 27:6.
Job knew God in a way that few men have known Him. Though sorely tried, he chose to set his heart to stand in righteousness before his Deliverer and Savior. He endured being deprived of friends, property, and health, and plunged into deep affliction.
Life on earth is full of tests of various degrees. Other than Jesus, none have endured more tests than Job while passing through this earth. Job''s life had been transformed and conformed to the will of God. He was faithful and willing to walk through all that was before him.
Job passed the tests and was restored. God gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10. Job had seven new sons, Elgotu, Dogla, Famia, Hebasa, Kinoe, Niplata and Regnata and three daughters, Jemima, Kezia and Keren-happuch. Job lived 140 years after all his troubles and had ten more children. "Job died, being old and full of days" at the age of 210 years. Job 42:10-17. He knew that His Redeemer lives.
I believe that Nicole C. Mullins caught sight of the faith of Job in her song "My Redeemer Lives". "Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning? And who told the ocean you can only come this far? And who showed the moon where to hide till evening? Whose words alone can catch a falling star? Well I know my Redeemer lives. I know my Redeemer lives, All of creation testifies, his life within me cries." Romans 1:20 says, " For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."
" I know my Redeemer lives. The very same God that spins things in orbit. He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak, and the same gentle hands that hold me when I''m broken." Richard Baxter, leading figure within the Puritan Movement in 1647 was worn out with ill health. While recovering he began to write his first book, The Saints Everlasting Rest, which is still in demand.
" They conquered death to bring me victory, now I know, my Redeemer lives, I know my Redeemer lives. Let all creation testify, let this life within me cry. I know my Redeemer, He lives to take away my shame, and He lives forever I''ll proclaim." Preacher and author John Bunyan was imprisoned several times for his stand against laws that ran contrary to God''s laws. While in prison he wrote one of the best known novels, Pilgram''s Progress. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1Jo 5:4.
"That the payment for my sin was the precious life He gave, but now He''s alive and there''s an empty Grave!" Smith Wigglesworth ministered in preaching and healing in the late 1800''s until 1946. One day he was struck with terrible pain. His doctor told him he had severe appendicitis and that he had no hope of recovery. A couple came to visit him and laid hands on him to pray. The pain immediately went away. He told his wife, "I am healed!". Jesus gave His life to redeem us, his sinless life was the price that was required to set us free. He bought us back from lives of sin. " They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:18.
A while back, thinking about this article, I asked my son Christian, "How do you know that your Redeemer lives?" He said twice, "The Bible says so." I kept asking for other ways. He said, "Because I was dead and He redeemed me." When Christian had a heart operation some years ago he died on the table. After he woke up he kept asking, "Where is the man with the shiney feet?" He later told me that he saw a man with shiney feet and he heard the words, "Get up!" Since his early years Christian has felt called to be a pastor. Christian now lives because His Redeemer lives!
"Now, I know my Redeemer lives, I know my Redeemer lives. Let this life within me cry, I know my Redeemer, He lives!" No matter what you are going through, your Redeemer is waiting for you to cry out to Him. He is well acquainted with the trials of this world on the way to a better place - Heaven. Christians, followers of Christ, know that their Redeemer lives. "He is alive! I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Re 1:18