A Sure Hope

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Scripture: Job 13:15 (NIV)

15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

I will surely defend my ways to his face.

 

Devotion:

            The speaker in today’s scripture is Job himself. He has just listened to his friends tell him that his many afflictions must be caused by some unknown sin in Job’s life. Job, however, is having none of that. He has great faith in God to deliver him from his hopeless condition regardless of outward appearances. Job has a faith that can overcome any obstacle placed in his path. The faith of Job is as great as the faith of the apostle Paul when he states:

 

“20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21, ESV)

 

            Paul had met the living Christ on the road to Damascus. His hope was grounded in actually seeing the object of his hope. Paul, like Job, endured many difficulties in his ministry. He writes these words from jail and yet he gives witness to his complete assurance that even if he has to depart from the land of the living and face Jesus once again all will be well with his soul.

 

            We should, therefore, not fear our death no matter what our earthly circumstances are. Christ will save us from our distress in the end. Like Job and Paul, we need not fear death for we know that God has plans for our welfare not our harm. We can have confidence that all our sin has been dealt with by Jesus on the cross. We will stand uncondemned before God on that judgement day. Christ will speak to the Father on our behalf declaring us innocent because of our relationship to him. As Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 (ESV):

 

            20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me

 

            Give glory to God that we can claim this promise with Paul. No matter what befalls us. No matter the doctor’s diagnosis. We are safe in Christ. That safety, thank God, is not dependent on us but on God who is always faithful. It is easy to get discouraged in our daily lives. However, Jesus wants us to be encouraged because we are his beloved children, and he will take care of us regardless of our situation. One day we will see what the apostle John wrote about in the 21st chapter of Revelation Verses 1-4 (NIV)

 

            Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Prayer:

            Dear Lord, we come to you with songs of praise on our lips. We lift a mighty chorus to your throne. Because despite all our affliction and loss in this world we know a new world awaits. We thank you that we may have a part in that new kingdom where there will be no more crying or death. Every source of human suffering will be ended. We will live forever, in perfect communion with you. Amen.

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