Will a man live again?

Introduction: All three of Job’s comforters have given their advice, and chapters 12-14 contain Job’s summary response to the friends. Job has a few shining moments that reflect his trust in God, but by and large, he is still on the roller coaster. In chapter 14 Job continues his response by looking at life from the natural perspective alone, which ends in despair. But he doesn’t stop with the natural; as a believer, Job remains aware that God has the final word.

Naturalistic View of Human Existence ()

Life is short and difficult ()

Explanation: Job begins his description of life from the natural perspective with a declaration that human life is brief and it is difficult. The reference to “man born of woman” is a figurative way to refer to all of humanity. This is not the isolated experience of a few, this is the shared experience of mankind. Job supports his thought by comparing humans with flowers which grow, and bloom, and then wither away.

Illustrate: Hurricane Florence hit the NC in Sept. 2018 and devastated homes and properties. Several of those afflicted had just finishing repairing damage caused by a hurricane in 2016. The California wildfires of 2018 destroyed 150,000 acres and 13,000 homes.

Argument: From a natural point of view, life is difficult for the majority of people who dwell on the planet. Though it is hard for us to realize, there are still many whose primary focus is getting enough food to last another day.

Politics and policies aside, this is the primary reason for the migrant caravans from the Central America countries. They know life is difficult, and that is why they are leaving their homes in search of a better tomorrow.

Application: We CAN and should be grateful for the blessings and provisions that God has given. This does not free us from the obligation of sharing those blessings with the less fortunate. We cannot help everybody, but we CAN share with some!

Death is inescapable ()

Explanation: Job is very much aware of the appointment that all will face. He knows that God has set limits on all of human life. Job was not aware of anyone’s specific termination date (including his own), but he did acknowledge that death is coming for each, and it is unavoidable.

Illustrate: Appointment in Samaria

Argument: There are people who do take matters somewhat into their own hands through destructive lifestyles. These would include members of the 27 Club: Jimmy Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse.

There are others who die due to terminal illness. Dr. Stephen Hawking, world-famous physicist who suffered from ALS, was an ardent evolutionist who denied the existence of God. In his view, humans are like computers - when the battery is depleted, we cease to function. GAME OVER!

Let us enjoy life while we can ()

Explanation: With a focus on the natural and the inevitability of death (v.5), Job asks God to just leave people alone and let them enjoy whatever they can (v. 6). Job uses the idea of a hired hand who looks forward to his personal time. The worker may not have much, but let him enjoy what little he does have without putting more on him

Illustrate: life philosophies such as You Only Live Once (YOLO) and “grab all the gusto” you can focus on doing whatever will maximize the personal experience. The focus is on the person, becoming “validated” and being “authentic.” The essence is captured in O’s philosophy of “just do you!”

Life is too short to be married to only one person, especially if you run into problems in the relationship

Life is too short too have children

Life is too short to wait until you’re married before having sex

Life is too short to spend your Sundays in the House of God

Life is too short to be on mission for God

Life is too short to be unhappy (Charity in the Verizon store)

Argument: Such a view of life does make sense from a purely naturalistic view of the world. If this is all there is, why not have a good time while we’re here? Why should we worry about the needs of others? If someone slows you down, shake them off and keep moving and having a good time!

Application: This is a dead-end (literally!) view of the human experience and it cannot help but lead to despair and hopelessness, especially to those who experience pain & suffering.

Thankfully, this is not the reality of the universe because the universe has a designer, and He has left His imprint everywhere!

Life is too short to be married to only one person, especially if you run into problems in the relationship

Life is too short too have children

Life is too short to wait until you’re married before having sex

Life is too short to spend your Sundays in the House of God

Life is too short to be on mission for God

Life is too short to be unhappy (Charity in the Verizon store)

Supernatural View of Human Existence (Job 14:7-15)

All Living things will die, but there is still hope in that a dead tree may bud again ()

Explanation: Job is still having trouble with discouragement, and that is seen in his discussion about a tree. Job is considering that even a tree has it better than humans! He knows that even if a tree dies, the dead stump can still bud again with the presence of rain and become a young plant again (v.)

Argument: Job’s observation of the life cycle of plants brings the matter of finality of death to the focus. Job was one of the wisest men of the day, and it should come as no surprise that he was a keen observer of creation. God has so designed the natural order that humans can learn much from it. Plant scientists know that the root system of the tree is still alive, but in a dormant state until it receives the required nutrients for blooming.

[This is not a earth science experience, but it does reflect the reality that real science is not at odds with revealed truth] The point Job is making is that it seems unfair for a tree to return to life. And that thought leads to the next point:

Humans die and it seems that death is final ()

Explanation: When a person dies, however, that is the end. The language Job uses about water leaving a lake and rivers drying up is a picture of hopelessness. Job even states that just like the waters departing, so life departs from the body and the body will just lay where it falls.

Argument: This is a reality that all of humanity faces. Death for humans has been the reality ever since Adam & Eve rebelled in the Garden. God told Adam that if he ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil he would die (), and after they disobeyed God, He told Adam that he would die and then return to the dust from which he was created ()

Death is a present reality, and it can make itself known at any moment. Regardless of religious beliefs, 1 out of every 1 die. Not a single person has physical immortality on this earth. That reality should have us considering what happens when we die, and that leads us to the next point . . .

Humans, however, will experience life after death ()

Explanation: Job reveals his hope in God’s ability to go beyond physical death. Immediately after he says death comes to all men (v. 12a), he has insight that man will awake when the heavens are remade (v. 12b) . Job understand that God has the power to hide him in the grave (Sheol) until the set time - this is an understanding that God has resurrection power!

In v. 14 when he asks the question, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” he then discusses the time of his renewal. This understanding of life after the grave is limited, but it is present. Job knows that God is powerful enough to pull it off, and he is hopeful that God will do it.

Argument: The events of the book of Job are some of the earliest events recorded in Scripture, and the teaching on Resurrection is very limited. The OT as a whole does not have a detailed teaching of the doctrine, but the idea is present in several places. The Prophet Isaiah told of a time when the “dead will live, and their bodes shall rise” () and in the Messianic psalm of Jesus, the Psalmist was told that God would not allow His Holy One to suffer the corruption of the grave (). The clearest teaching of the Resurrection in the OT is found in the Book of Daniel when the angel tells Daniel that “those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” ()

The NT has a much more detailed teaching of the Resurrection, especially as found in the person and teaching of Jesus. In claimed that He was “the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.”

Jesus Himself validated this Truth when He rose from the grave three days after they laid him in the Tomb. He was seen by the disciples and to 500 of the brethren at one time ()

Application: All of us die. We can live healthy and make good decisions, but death will come for all of us. Given this reality, the important thing to consider is what happens to people when they die?

The Naturalist answer can be summed up by Dr. Hawking - the body is a machine, and when the batteries die, it ceases to function. The Supernatural answer, as found in the Bible, is far different. It teaches that each human will continue after the grave. Many will exist in a place of torment and despair in a place called Hell where they will suffer a godless eternity. Many others, however, will live forever in a grand and glorious place called Heaven where they will worship Jesus and serve Him with Joy and purpose for eternity.

According to the Bible the answer to Job’s question is a resounding YES! Humans will experience the afterlife. And there are only two destinations: Heaven or Hell. The Scriptures also teach that our destination is determined by the choice we make in this life. teaches that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” By the way, this verse closes the possibility of reincarnation. We only get one life, and that life, as summed up in a poem by missionary C.T. Studd, is, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

As we move to a time of response I want to ask a slightly different question than Job asked. My question is this, “Are you ready for life after death?” Before you answer that question I want you to realize that I am not talking about a fire insurance policy. Christianity is not about getting a “get out of Hell” card. Jesus calls individuals to Himself, to deny self and follow Him. It is a call to the Lordship of Christ through repentance of sin. It is a turning away from the empty, selfish dreams and ambitions of a life centered on self-approval or material gain. Jesus is calling you to repent and belief.

As the Holy Spirit is convicting and drawing, I invite you to come to the Saviour.