If a man dies, will he live again?

Editor's Note: Local pastors partner with us to bring a message of hope and comfort to readers twice a week. Look for it on Sundays and Wednesdays."If a man dies, will he live again?" (Job 14:14a). So asked Job as he contemplated his own mortality in the throes of great misery.However, in the very next breath, it seems that Job's faith is already- perhaps meagerly – in touch with the truth that begins to answer his question. Indeed he states, "All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes" (Job 14:14b). So what change is Job referring to? Clarification can be found in Job 19:25 - 27 as he, still in the throes of misery, proclaims, "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God, whom I myself shall behold and whom my eyes will see and not another." It is the prospect of resurrection hope!Easter Sunday brings the fullness of this hope into view as a rolled-away stone, a vacant shroud, an empty tomb, and a Living Lord declare of Jesus, "He is risen!" (Luke 24:6). "He is risen indeed!" (Luke 24:34). And so, therein is contained and by faith conveyed what the Apostle Peter called "living hope" (I Peter 1:3). The world often says, "Where there's life, there's hope." It's an encouraging thought, but how about when the vital signs flat-line and earthly life is over?Ah, but that is where a greater victory comes into view. In Jesus, the refrain changes from "Where there's life, there's hope" to "Where there's hope, there's life." That's the essence of "living hope." Jesus' resurrection brings a hope that is bigger than life. In fact it transcends earthly life to become eternal life.An inquiring world says, "How can we be sure the report is true?" First of all, the apostles who fled for their lives when Jesus was arrested ended up emboldened to give their lives for Him. Secondly, the ensuing attempted cover up by the secular and religious authorities confirm it was true. Why would they cover up His death when that's what they wanted. No, but they were trying to cover up His resurrection which they didn't want. Thirdly, why did Paul leave Damascus to persecuteChristians and then arrive to preach the resurrection? Because it was true. Many more evidences could be recited. A study of the same has converted many notable skeptics such as C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, and Lee Strobel. Check out their biographies.There is another great evidence for the resurrection that is articulated by Alfred Ackley in his 1933 hymn: "You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart." It's the often recited experience of those who have met in their hearts, minds, spirits, and souls the Living Lord. Again a skeptical world dismissively maintains, "Seeing is believing." But what if it's the other way around; what if "Believing is seeing?" What if faith imparts spiritual eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to know, and hearts to understand? What if one step of faith explodes in the glorious conviction, "He lives within my heart!""If a man dies will he live again?" Jesus answered, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26a). And then he asked Martha, "Do you believe that?" She said, "Yes, Lord. I have believed" (John 11:26b). What say you?Ed Clevinger is minister at Grace Christian Church in Kingsport.