Job 17:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
“My spirit is broken; my days are extinct;
the graveyard is ready for me.
Surely there are mockers about me,
and my eye dwells on their provocation.
Death Can Be Depressing - But Not Defeating
Job, as we know from reading the early parts of his story, is in a really bad place. His family is gone (except a wife who simply tells him to give up and die); his property, wealth and status is destroyed; his health is so bad he is scrapping sores off his body with pieces of pottery. His friends are now condemning him and wanting him to confess and repent to a list of sins he does not own. Now, in the above passage, we see the real darkness of his situations. If all that was not enough, now Job is looking death right in the eye. The result, it is stilling his hope. God did not create death. We are not really sure, when God created heaven and earth, if Adam (and Eve) were created as eternal beings ... meaning “no death.” We read in Romans 3 that death comes about because of sin in the world. It was not until Adam and Eve sinned that we see death in the garden. God killed an animal to make clothes to cover their nakedness. We do know that none of this surprised God. Before creation He designed that His Son would die on the cross for us. So, all that can be very confusing. But, what we do know, is that death is a mean, wretched creature that, before it takes our life, sucks the life out us. When it does come it tries to suck the life out of all those who are surviving. In the above passage we read Job’s words about death as it creeps up on him. Note his despair. When we read about Job we have to remember that his “faith” was not focused on an event in the past (like we do as we look at the cross of Christ). His faith was focused on the future ... toward the cross of Christ. He hoped for it and believed it would happen. We believe it happened and have hope. But, Job’s hope is taking a real hit in this chapter, especially the above verse. We all face death and we all will face the “separation” of what death brings. However, it is through faith’s eyes, that we actually have a way charted through the waters of death. Note what Job said earlier:
Job 13:15 (ESV Strong's)
Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
Job had faith. That faith did not change his circumstances. It not not remove the hurt we read in the above passage. Job’s faith simply gave him an understanding that death is not the final step ... death is the first step as we reach heaven’s shores. Someone once said that when a believer passes away we see a funeral home on this side. But, on God’s side, He and all of heaven, see a maternity ward as a new child of heaven is transported to God’s home. Our faith does not remove the feelings that death brings. Our faith simply gives us the hope we need to know that God is on the other side waiting to receive us into His believed arms. Like the pain of a child in the birth canal, it quickly goes away as they are held by their Heavenly Father. This was what Jesus said to us:
John 14:1-4 (ESV Strong's)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
Note King David’s Words:
Psalms 16:8-11 (ESV Strong's)
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
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