"In my flesh I shall see God"

Job 19: 25-27 (NKJV)

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

I was pondering this verse today. I got a new Bible study software called Logos (and it's awesome!), and on it there is a daily devotional book. It's called Morning and Evening, by Charles Spurgeon. This evening was on this verse, "And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God." This was part of Job's reply to his friend who was telling him that all the bad things that were happening to him were because of his sin. The rest of the chapter before these verses, Job is going through all of the things God allowed to happen to him, and it is horrendous! To name a few, he was stripped from his glory, hopeless, outnumbered, rejected by those who used to love him, a stranger to even his own wife, and so sick in his body that he was looking death in the face. After all this, Job still said, "I know that my Redeemer lives!" His eyes were not on his circumstance, but on the perfect will of the Father. Even through all this, his spirit remained strong and even grew stronger.

And then he says, "In my flesh I shall see God." To see God is unfathomable. No one has ever seen him. One tiny glance would kill us because our bodies can't handle it! But the fact that this statement of Job's is true for all who believe blows my mind. One day, we will have resurrected bodies that will have the capacity to see God. And we will worship Him forever. But, first the earth will face the greatest tragedies ever. Christians will face persecution with more intensity than in all of history. In the midst of chaos, I want my response to be like Job's response. I want to be able to follow God so closely that I could never fall away. When people are falling beside me, I want to be one who stands for the hope that Jesus promised us. I want to be able to worship God and stand in awe of Him when there are tragedies all around me.

Then, after God judges the earth, I really will get to see Him. That is beyond comprehension.

I wrote this song the other day based on Psalm 1. I truly believe that by living in the Word and meditating on it day and night, I will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus and I will be able to stand in that day.

Like a Tree

I want to be like a tree

Planted by the stream of living water

And I want to stand in your counsel, Lord

Not tossed to and fro by circumstantial waves

On your sacred Word will I meditate

My delight will be in your flawless law

So help me to be faithful with the little that you give

And let me bear good fruit when the season is right

Let me stand in agreement with you even as you judge the earth

For I want to be standing in that day