November
3, 2003
MY
REDEEMER LIVES!
"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 19:25-27, NKJV).
Redeemer,
a person who redeems, to buy back, to recover, to deliver
from sin and its penalties, as by a sacrifice made for the
sinner, to rescue. The Hebrew word translated "redeemer,"
go'el, is rendered "avenger," or "revenger".
God is frequently called go'el in the sense that He
vindicates the rights of men and ransoms those who have come
under the dominion of another. He rescues us from the dominion
of Satan.
"From
the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the
heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power
of God. Triumphantly he declared: 'Though He slay me, yet
will I trust Him.. He also shall be my salvation... I know
that my Redeemer lives... Whom I shall see for myself' (Job
13:15, 16; 19:25, 27)...
"God
is able and willing 'more abundantly' to bestow upon His servants
the strength they need for test and trial. The plans of the
enemies of His work may seem to be well laid and firmly established;
but God can overthrow the strongest of these. And this He
does in His own time and way, when He sees that the faith
of His servants has been sufficiently tested.
"For
the disheartened there is a sure remedy,-- faith, prayer,
work. Faith and activity will impart assurance and satisfaction
that will increase day by day. Are you tempted to give way
to feelings of anxious foreboding or utter despondency? In
the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, fear
not. Have faith in God. He knows your need. He has all power.
His infinite love and compassion never weary. Fear not that
He will fail of fulfilling His promise. He is eternal truth.
Never will He change the covenant He has made with those who
love Him."--Prophets and Kings, pp., 163-165.
"Under
conviction of sin, remember that I died for you. When oppressed,
persecuted and afflicted for My sake and the gospel, remember
that for you I gave my life. When your duties appear stern
and sever and your burdens heavier than you can bear, remember
that I endured the cross, despising the shame. When your heart
shrinks from the trying ordeal, remember that your Redeemer
lives to make intercession for you."--Adapted, Desire
of Ages.
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