THE GLADDEST NEWS
D URING THE LAST WAR, an American mother received a very special letter. It was written In her son’s familiar handwriting and its heading read: “Somewhere in the South Pacific”: Dear Mom: It is comparatively quiet where I am today, but no one knows how long it will be. If this letter reaches you, it will mean that I can't write another one, for I'm putting this away with my things, and asking that it be sent to you. I just want to say, Mom, don't grieve for me. "I know that my Redeemer llveth." My trust is in Him “who loved me, ana gave himself for me/' And because He lives, I too shall liver Don't ever say of me, "He’s gone." Say, "He lives!" Because, Mom, when you read this. I shall be very much alive, and waiting for you in Christ's presence. With love, John. That letter was read through blinding tears. But in the darkest hour of a mother’s life, this woman at length could say, “This—really—is good news. He lives . . . waiting . . . in Christ’s presence.” The sting of death is gone when one contemplates the blessings of eternal life through Christ. “He lives!” There is no happier news. Throughout the Word, this message applies gloriously to Christ, “the firstfruits of them that slept.” One can not follow Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, without realizing that each writer produces positive proof of Christ’s victory over death and the grave. Each Gospel ends with our Lord’s triumphant mastery over the king of terrors. Every one of the evangelists shows conclu sively that, tearing away the bars of the tomb, Christ emerged as the Lord of life. But this Easter message, "He lives,” is in the Old Testament as well as in the New. Even a casual reading reveals that resurrection truth is everywhere in promise, parable, and prophecy. Through the telescope of revelation, the ancient Job saw Christ, the mighty Victor, and in his astonishing declaration there are the cardinal truths of Christ’s
death, resurrection, and coming glory. The portion deal ing with this sublime fact of Christianity, uttered even before Christianity appeared, reads: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall be hold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. —Job 19:25-27. Here is a glorious message. The chapter out of which the foregoing quotations are taken registers Job’s protest against the supposed kindness of. his so-called friends. At •first, the man of God is found recounting his woes. Then he moves beyond that, and proceeds to avow his faith in Jehovah. He has a Heavenly Redeemer, a Vindicator of righteousness! With an unmistakable tone of exaltation, he testifies to this bright glimpse of his living Redeemer. Here is a profound message. Various endeavors have been made to explain away the- somewhat mysterious Import of these verses. Undoubtedly, the Holy Spirit In tended a meaning beyond that which Job himself fully
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