Frail as a Flower

O. T. #1138  "Frail as a Flower"
Jan. 23, 2018
Job 14

LET IT GLOW

Soon, after the bitter cold weather has passed, and the sun shines again, the sweet little fragrant crocuses and dainty dandelions will pop their heads above the cold ground and shine forth their beauty. Oh, the signs of spring come none too early. I have seen them standing in the midst of snow, too. But their appearance gives us hope of better days to come. Yep, spring is around the corner when we see those beauties. Job wondered about what was to come when he died. Would death bring him relief from his sufferings or more despair?

Job describes his human life in three ways:

1. He is frail like a flower.
2. His life is fleeting like a shadow.
3. He has trouble like a hired man.

A flower can be cut down and is gone. The sun can wilt the flower so it is no more. We are like the frail flower, in the sense that our physical body will not last forever here.  Man is so feeble that it cannot stand up to the Spirit nor God's Word. God has appointed the day for our life here to end.

In Isaiah 40, we read abut all flesh being like grass. Verses 7 and 8 say, The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the Spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

 We know that as the sun moves throughout the day, a shadow moves also. Eventually, the shadow disappears and is no longer. As for the hired man, his work is never completed, but at the end of the day, he has done what he could. That day is over and so is the work.

Humanity is vulnerable. Here today, gone tomorrow.

LET IT GROW

We don't live forever, in this world, that is. We will live forever in eternity, though. What's important is for us to make the right preparation. Job turns to the life beyond the grave.

Job's question is found in verse 14: If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait. Until my change comes.

Keeping in mind that this book was written during the patriarchal era, so Job knew little about the doctrine of resurrection. What he says is not all there is to know about the resurrection. Since we have the whole Bible we discover more truth. When we die, we live on, forever. If we believe in Jesus, confess our sins to Him, and He is our Savior, then we will never die spiritually. Jesus said so in John 11:25-26. We will all have everlasting life, but some may have a different destiny from us believers. We will spend eternity with God in heaven, but unbelievers will spend eternity without God in hell.
So the answer to Job's question is yes. When we die, we live again.  The question we should ask is, When I die, where will I live again?" Will it be with the Lord Jesus in heaven, experiencing joy, reliefs, and rewards awaiting God's people? Or will it be away from God and those we love so dearly, in hell.

The good news is that life is frail, our years are few, and full of trouble. but once we are in the Lord's presence, all that changes. So we need to take advantage of the opportunity now to secure our hope of eternal bliss, as well as sharing the good news with others.
[Resource: Charles R. Swindoll, book Job, A Man of Heroic Endurance]

Jesus told John, which he wrote in Revelation 1:18 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

In John 11:25-26, Jesus said unto Martha after her brother Lazarus died, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?  

Are we believing in Jesus as the One and Only way to heaven?

LET IT GO

When I let go of life here, taking my last breath, I will live forever with Jesus and the extravagant heaven He has prepared for me.
Share with others my hope of life after death.