07/17/2020 – Day 047 – Job 13 – 14
Let’s look at Job’s despondent prayer in 14:10: “But man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last / And where is he?”
But wait a minute, a peek forward in the midst of suffering, in Chapter 19: 25,26: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall at last on the earth And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God.”
And here is the footnote to the Chapter 19 verses above to help us put it in perspective and to “let scripture testify to scripture”:
“Job, who existed thousand of years (Jim’s note – estimate – say 3,700 years ago, almost as much time before Christ as to us after Christ) before the coming of the Messiah, had faith that God would deliver him from death. Along with Abraham, he rejoiced to see the day of Jesus Christ (see John 8:56; Hebrews 11: 32-40). Their salvation would come by grace through their faith in the coming Redeemer. (see Eph. 2:8-9)
And finally, back to the original verse 14:10 – Let’s look at the “Near-death experiences” in the footnote in my Bible to that verse:
“Omni magazne (March 1985) reported a study by Dr. Maurice Rawlings (at the time a devout atheist), cardiologist, and professor of medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chatanooga and author of the book To Hell and Back. He and his emergency room colleagues are constantly treating such cases. It is now standard that those who have near-death experiences later speak of having experiences of light, lush green meadows, rows of smiling relatives, and tremendous peace. However, in his study (also reported in his book Beyond Death’s Door), Dr. Rawlings obtained new information by interviewing patients immediately after resuscitation while they are still too shaken to deny where they have been. Nearly 50 percent of teh group of 300 interviewed reported lakes of fire and brimstone, devil-like figures, and other sights hailing from the darkness of hell. He says they later change their story because most people are simly ashamed to admit they have been to hell; they won’t even admit to it to their families. Concludes Dr. Rawlings, ‘Just listening to these patients has changed why whole life. There’s a life after death, and I don’t know where I’m going, it’s not safe to die.”
Jimmy’s note – I need to look up Dr. Rawlings and pray for him if he is still living regarding his last sentence. By God’s grace alone, I trust God’s Word and his judgments. The Apostle Paul noted (paraphrased) : “We yearn to go home now to the Lord with every fiber in our being , but we must complete our mission to His kingdom”. And praise God, I have assurance of spending eternity with my Lord and Savior! So we need to spread the word to our future brothers and sisters and pray unceasingly !!
Soli Deo Gloria!
p.s. – I need to remember to post the title with the date of the assigned reading, not the date I am writing it. I corrected this one, but I have probably missed others.
Love,
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy