For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.
But man dies and is laid away;
Indeed he breathes his last
And where is he?
As water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
So man lies down and does not rise.
Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.  ~Job 14:7-12

These words from Job were given at an extremely low time in his life. Everything he loved had been taken away from him and then he developed unexplained boils that caused agony and cost him sleep. His wife admonished him to curse God and die. Then his friends showed up and told him he needed to repent for whatever he did to cause God to turn on him. Fortunately, a little later, he was able to regain focus and declare:

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! ~Job 19:25-27

What strikes me, though, is how much faith Job had. Jesus had not yet come to earth to redeem mankind. We have the privilege of knowing about Christ’s coming, His death, and His Resurrection! We’ve read how he said to Martha:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ~John 11:25-26

Unfortunately, many don’t believe, and some who claim to believe do not live like they do. Friend, regardless of what you believe, Jesus is alive! If you do believe that, your life should show it. Job 1:22 records:

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

I was reminded in my Bible study today that we need to live like we believe Christ is alive and that He could come back at any moment because the truth is He is, and He could. Are you ready?