Job 14:14: “If a man dies, shall he live again?”

December 9th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Job asked God a penetrating question, one that brings us face-to-face with the common denominator in the life of all men: death. But Job went further than the mere certainty and reality of death. He was probing into the real issue of life after death, questioning the possibility of whether mere mortal humans could attain immortality.

There is a secular industry growing among people, who are having their bodies frozen after death in the hopes that some future technology will become available that will revive them, creating a type of resurrection. So Job was asking a question then that people are still seeking an answer to today. Resurrection is mankind’s greatest hope, and Jesus’ answer to Job’s question is yes!, which He proved by rising from the dead. The empty tomb in Jerusalem declares that there is life after death. Perhaps the proper question isn’t, “Shall a man live again?” but rather, “Shall a man ever really live here?” We can never really know what true life is until we trust in the saving work of our crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill prearranged his own funeral. Stately hymns were sung in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London along with an impressive liturgy. When they said the benediction, he had arranged for a bugler, high in the dome of the cathedral on one side, to play “Taps,” the universal signal that the day was over. And then, after a long pause, a bugler on the other side of the dome played “Reveille,” the signal that a new day was beginning. It was Churchill’s way of communicating that, while we say “Good night” here, it’s “Good morning” up there!

“LORD, we thank You for eternal life, which You promise to all who surrender to Your Son.”

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Job 14 KJV

¹ Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.  ² He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. ³ And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? ⁴ Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.  ⁵ Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; ⁶ Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.  ⁷ For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. ⁸ Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; ⁹ Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. ¹⁰ But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?  ¹¹ As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: ¹² So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. ¹³ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! ¹⁴ If a man die, shall he live again ? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. ¹⁵ Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. ¹⁶ For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? ¹⁷ My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. ¹⁸ And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. ¹⁹ The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.  ²⁰ Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. ²¹ His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. ²² But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.