There is a third point to Job’s statement. Not only does Job declare that he has a Redeemer, not only does he affirm that He is a living Redeemer, but he adds, quite properly, that He is his Redeemer. “My” is the word he uses. “I know that my redeemer liveth!” Do you know that “my” in relation to Jesus Christ? It is a reminder of the need for a personal religion.
Moreover, this is what we desire, isn’t it? We are persons, and we desire personal relationships. We are made in God’s image, as persons, so we desire a personal relationship with God. In my church in Philadelphia there are many young people, and I notice that the young people often have a great deal of appreciation for one another. There are young girls, for instance, who greatly appreciate certain young men. And there are young men who greatly appreciate certain young women, even though they sometimes fail to say so. That is a wonderful thing. I am glad that virtue and good looks are noticed. But I have noticed that in addition to that there are also many young women who would like to be able to say not only, “Look at that fellow, how handsome he is!” but also, “Look at my fellow.” And some of the young men would like to say, “Look at my girl.” Admiration is good. But a personal involvement is better.
In the same way, this is our privilege in our relationship to Christ. It is good to admire Him. He is the risen Lord of glory after all, and it would be foolish not to. But how much better to know Him personally, as Job did. Jesus came to earth to die for sin and to rise again. But can you say, “My God came as my Redeemer to die for my sin and to rise again for my justification”? Can you say that? You give no real evidence of being a Christian until you can.
Can you? If not, say it now. Commit yourself to Him. Do not delay. You say, “I’ll do it next year.” Do not say that. I can give you no guarantee that you will be here next year. I can guarantee that some who hear these words will not. Do not delay. Tomorrow may be too late. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). I wish that everyone who hears these words might be able to repeat Job’s testimony.
Moreover, I would like you also to possess Job’s assurance. This is the fourth point. You see, not only does Job refer to his Redeemer and declare that He is both a living and personal Redeemer, but Job also says that he knows these things. “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Do you possess such assurance? You should if you are a Christian.
I do not know why some people think that it is somehow meritorious to express doubt in matters of religion. We know people like this. They think that it is somehow vain or impolite to be certain and that it is humble and therefore desirable to say, “I do not know… I hope so… I would like to believe… I think God will help us.”
Nothing could be farther from the truth. The truly humble man is the man who bows before God’s revelation and accepts it because of who God is. It is the proud man who thinks that he knows enough about anything to doubt God. Besides, God says that is the equivalent of calling Him a liar; for it is as much as to say that His word is untrustworthy (cf. 1 John 5:10).
Jesus lives! Then stand upon it. Believe it. Declare it. Act upon it. Say with Job: “I know that my redeemer lives” and that certain important consequences flow from it.
What are the consequences? Well, we have already alluded to some of them. The most obvious is that we who believe in Jesus Christ will live again. Job refers to it by adding, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (v. 26). Because our Redeemer lives, we shall live. His resurrection is the pledge of our own.
