I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

It is written: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27)

Many folk make references to “poor old Job,” and it is true he did suffer tremendously at the hands of Satan. Yet, even in all this upheaval of his life, he was as rich as a man could be. You see, true wealth is a state of one’s relationship with the Heavenly Father. There is no doubt that Job lost everything in the physical world, but he gained with great abundance in the spiritual kingdom.

It was God’s respect for Job’s strong faith that prompted Him to say to Satan, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8) Oh what wondrous awesomeness that God acknowledges one man in particular and then to give him such a high recommendation. Job was wealthy in the grace of God, in the faith of God, and in his faithfulness to God. He lost all in this world, but he won special recognition from the Eternal Father.

Satan “huffed and puffed” against the doors of Job’s faith, but his fiery breath could not burn them down. He raged with storms of wrath, but the walls of his faithfulness would not crumble to the ground. Job remained anchored upon the Rock of Eternity. Job could not be moved even when his wife, his friends, and the “Great Pious Ones” sought to persuade him. Job was more than steadfast; his faith was eternally secured in the hands of the Almighty God. Job had no mere mortal faith; he had that blessed gift of eternal faith that came by the way of abundant grace from the only true God. Therefore, it could not be destroyed or invaded by the powers of Satan, though he surely tried. Satan has no power to defeat divine faith.

Job understood that death comes upon all men; he was not worried about the body returning to the dust of the ground. There was something else that motivated and strengthened Job’s resolve not to curse God. Job knew of the resurrection to come and that he would behold the Eternal Redeemer. In faith and patience Job trusted his God.