January 22nd

Job 12:1-14:22

Job responded to his accusers, who were supposed to be his friends. They turned out to be more irritating than comforting. Do you have any friends like that?

In the process of responding, Job made some strong remarks about the finality of death.
“How frail is humanity! How short is life, and how full of trouble! Like a flower, we blossom for a moment and then wither. Like the shadow of a passing cloud, we quickly disappear... When people die, they lose all strength. They breathe their last and, then, where are they? As water evaporates from a lake and as a river disappears in drought, people lie down and do not rise again. Until the heavens are no more, they will not wake up nor be aroused from their sleep” (14:1, 2, 10-12).

Job was not aware, at this point, that Christ would come, nor that He would die and be resurrected, to deliver man from death; but Job does accurately describe the death of one who does not know Christ. “If a man dies, will he live again?”

What we do on this earth, in the time that we are given, is so important. Oftentimes, we think that we have many years left to do those things that we need to do, while now is the time to do what we want to do. But life is short and it is full of trouble, and we don’t know what it has in store for us. We would be better off to take care of what we know is right to do and worry about our desires another day. Life is about Christ — getting to know Him, becoming more like Him, glorifying Him through our words and deeds, and telling others about Him. What can possibly be more important?

When death does come, and it will, we need to have things in order, and I don’t mean earthly things, but spiritual things. Job asked, “Will it be well with you when God examines you? Or can you deceive Him as you deceive a man?”

Daily Reflection

Death is inevitable. Are you prepared for it? Will it be well with you when it comes? If you died today, do you know for sure that you would spend eternity in heaven? How do you know? What will you say when you approach the gates of heaven and God asks, “Why should I let you into My heaven?”

What other spiritual matters do you need to resolve before death? Do you have any regrets, any unresolved conflict, anything to make right?

 “It is appointed for a man to die once, and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

BiAY.org |Day 22 — 343 Days to Go