The Gladdest Hews By Louis T. Talbot, D.D.
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 1 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 liveth.” M y trust is in Him “who loved me, and gave himself for me.” And because He lives, I too shall live. 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 w a i t i n g f o r y o u 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 cannot follow Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, without realiz ing 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 conclusively 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 coining glory. The portion dealing 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 intended a meaning beyond that which Job himself fully understood. It is evident that the language he used related to two advents of Christ. Job’s friends urged him to set his hopes upon a return to temporal prosperity, to health, wealth, and friends. Job, however, longed for God and His salvation. Upheld by this Spirit-given hope, the patriarch spoke of vindication in a future life. Here is an ancient message. Job’s declaration of the Redeemer is all the more striking if, as many scholars affirm, his book was the first book of the Bible to be written. It seems unquestionable that this book was in existence before the giving of the Law. Job, then, was probably the first herald of Easter. Here is a central message. Job’s Easter prediction is almost in the center of the Old Testament. This is signi ficant, since the central truth of Christianity is that which Christ made possible by His death and resurrection. In Job’s triumphant utterance, there are at least six related truths for the comfort of every believer: A Christian Assurance Job was positive in his assertion: “ I know that my Redeemer liveth.” Perhaps, maybe, possibly: this man’s vocabulary of faith included no such words. Unlike many present-day preachers, he did not doubt his beliefs and believe his doubts. Although he lived years before Christ, and on the other side of the cross, he knew that Christ would come as the Redeemer. To know anything is to be confident of its existence. How did Job know that his Redeemer was alive and that ultimately he would see Him? Knowledge, such as Job mentioned, is not a mere mental comprehension founded upon scientific statements. As used by Job, the word implies an inner knowledge and inborn conviction. This kind of knowledge regarding the redemption of Christ can never be acquired merely by acquiescing to state ments of Scripture. It comes by the Holy Spirit’s burning into one’s consciousness the true meaning of these inspired
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