"An Iron Pen and Lead"

These words are found in the 19th chapter of the book of Job. Let me tell you about them. Job lived 5,000 years ago, long, long before the coming of Christ Jesus into the world to save sinners, yet by faith of that Anointed One of God, the promised Saviour of men, Job staked his soul's salvation for time and for eternity. Just as we can look back to the historic days of our Lord's earthly life, death, resurrection and exaltation, so Job looked forward into time to when the promised Saviour should appear on earth. Job knew, as every honest man knows, that there is a price to pay for sin, that even the best of men (an Job was exemplary) are sinful. But Job rested for salvation on the Christ which should surely come from heaven in God's perfect time and who would accomplish the work of redemption, sacrificially laying down His precious life as the sinner's Substitute. Moreover, Job foresaw that the One who would come to die for sinful men must live again. Assurance is required that the price paid has been accepted!

Being enlightened by the Spirit of God, Job exulted in his discovery of a divine Redeemer. Of Him he speaks in fervent words, "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! For I know that MY REDEEMER LIVETH." These last three words Job desired to be indelibly written to endure to the ages of ages. First of all he would jot down his great discovery in normal writing. But no, not good enough. The words must be inscribed on a parchment scroll which would, perhaps, last for centuries. Still not good enough—so glorious a message must be engraved in perpetuity—but how! "By iron pen and lead upon the rock." "Come," says he, "Bring a sculptor's chisel and engrave deeply the letters of the wondrous words, then take molten lead and fill the graven letters cut deeply upon the rock." Now there they shine in silvery hue to the eternal ages! "MY REDEEMER LIVES."

No preacher ever chose a better text, nor ever did so few words convey so great a volume of a meaningful truth. Now if that is the gospel witness of the ancient patriarch, what endorsement can we find in an Apostle's words?

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel . . . how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1,3,4).

These are the great apostle Paul's inspired words, spoken in the light and fact of our Lord Jesus Christ's actual advent, death and glorious resurrection.

My Redeemer Lives!

The writer of this article can say it with great joy. Can you do the same?
—Selected

Source: www.mwtb.org