If A Man Die, Shall He Live Again ?
Job 14:1-15
Introduction: Most of us are aware of the suffering of Job. Never has a man lost so much in such a short period of time. In just one day, probably only a matter of hours he lost most all of his material possessions, but even beyond comprehension is the fact that he lost all of his children.........seven sons and three daughters. Can you imagine such pain ? It would simply be unbearable ! But Job’s suffering was not over..........Job chapter 2 tells us of the awful disease that he was stricken with......which many Bible scholars consider to be Leprosy. The Bible says that smitten with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. One Bible scholar describes is this way.......hot and burning ulcers, such as were inflicted on the Egyptians in the plague of boils and blains.......it was as it were one boil; they stood so thick and close together, so that there was no part free.....he was full of sores like Lazarus. It was so terrible that Job sat down among ashes, took a piece of broken pottery, and used it to scrape himself........perhaps to relieve the itching !
Job’s mental, emotional, and physical suffering took such a toll on him that when 3 friends came to visit him after hearing of his troubles that they didn’t even recognize him....and when they did realize it was Job the Bible says that they sprinkled dust upon their heads, lifted up their voices, and wept. They then went and sat down by his side upon the ground, and were so speechless by his condition that they didn’t say a word for 7 days, and 7 nights because they saw that his grief was great !
In the midst of Job’s great affliction, he asks a question. This morning I want us to focus our attention on his question.
I. The Concern He Addresses.
V.14 If a man die, shall he live again ? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
The oldest question in the world........Job, the oldest book in the Bible. It was written approx 3,500 years ago........and yet the subject matter is more relevant today than at any other time.
Why is their suffering ? Why do bad things happen to good people ? If a man die shall he live again.........as that question plaqued the heart of Job........so it still plaques humanity til this day ! Is death the end ? What lies beyond the veil of death, if anything ?
Ecc. 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Because Job lived in the day before there was any recorded scripture, men were often in the dark concerning some great spiritual matters. Their vision was limited in scope. We can be thankful that we have the N.T.....the words of Christ, the Holy Spirit to help us in our understanding !
What leads us to ask this question ?
a. The Beginning Of Life Sparks This Question.
Man that is born of a woman............
b. The Brevity Of Life Sparks This Question.
is of few days............
c. The Burdens Of Life Spark The Question.
.......and full of trouble
II. The Change He Awaits
Job answers his own question as inspired by the Spirit.
He answers it here, and then again in
Job 19:25-26 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:
Jesus answered his question at the grave of Lazarus when he said.........John 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Paul answered his question when he wrote to the Church at Corinth.......
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The believer in Christ shall experience......
a. Change in Address
One day whether through death or through the rapture of the church.......we are going to change locations, addresses. We are going to our heavenly home that Christ has prepared for all those who have believed on him !
b. Change in Appearance
1 John 3:2 Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Not only are we going to experience a change in address, but we’re going to change in appearance.
Our resurrected body will be one fashioned like that of our Risen Lord !
c. Change in Attitudes
The attitudes of this world which are evident of this fallen, sinful world such as prejudice, jealousy, hatred shall not be present in heaven. Heaven will be a place of complete peace, harmony, and love !
d. Change in Actions
We shall finally, and totally be delivered from this world of sin, and will be in a place where there will be no sin !
III. The Consistency He Affirms.
all the days of my appointed time will I wait.........
"Appointed time" can be translated "warfare, hardship"
Job is saying that I will wait patiently......I will be consistent until my change come.
What are we to do until our time comes or until our Lord comes ?
We are to live consistently !
a. Consistent in our worship.
Consistent in attendance, praying, and praising
b. Consistent in our walk.
c. Consistent in our work.
d. Consistent in our witness.
Jesus addressed those who thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear with the "parable of the noble man" in Luke 19. The message of the parable is "occupy till I come".
"Occupy meaning to stay busy"
Until the Lord calls us home or until he comes to take us home we are to stay busy, be active in our Christian lives !
