Morning, April 21
Go To Evening Reading
“I know that my Redeemer liveth.”
Job 19:25
The marrow of Job’s comfort lies in that little word “My”—“My Redeemer,” and in the fact that the Redeemer lives. Oh! to get hold of a living
Christ. We must get a property in him before we can enjoy him. What
is gold in the mine to me? Men are beggars in Peru, and beg their
bread in California. It is gold in my purse which will satisfy my
necessities, by purchasing the bread I need. So a Redeemer who does
not redeem me , an avenger who will never stand up for my blood, of what avail were such? Rest not content until by faith you
can say “Yes, I cast myself upon my living Lord; and he is mine.” It may be you hold him with a feeble hand; you half think it presumption
to say, “He lives as my Redeemer;” yet, remember if you have but faith as a grain of mustard seed, that
little faith entitles you to say it. But there is also another word here, expressive of
Job’s strong confidence, “ I know .” To say, “I hope so, I trust so” is comfortable; and there are thousands in the fold of Jesus who
hardly ever get much further. But to reach the essence of consolation
you must say, “I know.” Ifs, buts, and perhapses, are sure murderers of peace and comfort.
Doubts are dreary things in times of sorrow. Like wasps they sting
the soul! If I have any suspicion that Christ is not mine, then there
is vinegar mingled with the gall of death; but if I know that Jesus
lives for me, then darkness is not dark: even the night is light about
me. Surely if Job, in those ages before the coming and advent of Christ,
could say, “I know,” we should not speak less positively. God forbid that our positiveness
should be presumption. Let us see that our evidences are right, lest
we build upon an ungrounded hope; and then let us not be satisfied
with the mere foundation, for it is from the upper rooms that we get
the widest prospect. A living Redeemer, truly mine, is joy unspeakable.