Job 14

“I wish You would hide me in Sh’ol, conceal me until Your anger has passed, then fix a time and remember me! If a man dies, will he live again?  I will wait all the days of my life for my change will come. You will call, and I will answer You; You will long to see what You have made again. Whereas now You count each step of mine, then You will not keep watch over my sin. You will seal up my crime in a bag and cover my iniquity.” Job 14:13-17 (CJB)

In today’s passage, Job introduces the idea of resurrection. More than simply bringing up the subject, Job professes to believe in the certainty of resurrection: “If a man dies, will he live again? I will wait all the days of my life, for my day will come”, “You will call, and I will answer,” and “Whereas now You count each step of mine, then You will not keep watch over my sin.”

It has been put forth by some so-called “experts” that the idea of “the resurrection” is not consistent with Judaism. Well, we see here that the belief in the resurrection predated even the call of Abraham! Furthermore, several generations before Moses, people held to the ideas of sacrifice and atonement for the removal of personal sin and guilt. I love how Job describes God sealing up Job’s crime in a bag and covering his iniquity!

Of course, the resurrection of the dead is an actual occurrence and a promise that followers of Jesus hope for. It allows us to endure suffering to follow the Lord.

“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV) (See also: Romans 6:4-11, John 5:21, John 6:39-54…)

It is comforting for believers to know for certain that we will be resurrected to everlasting life in Heaven. But did you know that non-believers will also be resurrected?

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 (NASB)

What makes the “good news” of the gospel so good is that the “bad news” is so bad. The reality is that salvation is offered to all who would receive it, free of charge, paid in full by Jesus. Have you accepted His free gift of eternal life? If so, are you sharing the “good news” with others so they, too, can turn to the Lord and be saved?