Day 24/365- Job 19:25-26

²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God.

Job hasn't been sure of much lately. He has lost almost everything important to him. His family, his possessions, his wife's support, & even the encouragement of his friends. Sometimes we are tempted to ask of him, "What are you still living for?" We find out in chapter 19.

If the midst of so much despair Job has hope. It's hope that goes beyond this life. This life can be cruel. The wicked growing fat & rich while the righteous are afflicted & poor. The wicked experiencing much while the righteous go without. How do we make sense of these great mysteries & questions?

Psalm 73 speaks about this similar question. The psalmist is struggling with his life being righteous and full of struggle while the wicked are at ease, never lacking anything. His final conclusion is that the wicked in the end have what's coming to them. All the good that is coming to them has already come in this life and punishment for wickedness is coming in the next life. Likewise, the righteous may struggle here, but their end is with God. As he says in Psalm 73:23-28.

  

²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength ^F166 of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

In the end, the wicked will be separated from God and the righteous will be with God. No matter what the difficulty in this life the greatest question remains, are we ready for eternity?