I Know My Redeemer Lives

By Gobel Brockman


A while back someone asked, "What's the most difficult thing about being a minister?" I think that's one of those questions that if you asked five different ministers, you'd probably get five different answers. But for me, the most difficult part is when people expect you to have answers you don't have because 'you're the minister'. "What does that passage in The Book of Revelation mean? "Why didn't God heal my loved one? You should know - you're the minister." Yes, we are ministers. But we are just as human as anyone else. We face the same doubts, temptations, and concerns as everyone else does.

The reason I'm talking about this is that on October 1, 2011 (yesterday as I write this), our granddaughter Kellin Dawn was born prematurely. Too premature to be viable outside of the womb. Here came the questions: "Why do bad things happen to good people? God had the power to prevent this, so why didn't He?" Only this time, it was me who was asking the questions. The only thing I could do was tell myself the same thing I tell others when they ask: "I won't try to give you answers I don't have. I'll only tell you what I do know. God is still God. Jesus is still His Son. The Holy Spirit is still in my heart. The Bible is still the Word of God. And I reject any lie of the enemy to convince me otherwise."

There's a story in the Bible about a man who had everything - money, possessions, family. And in a matter of moments, he lost it all - including all of his children. How did he respond?

   "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my flesh has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God." (Job 19:23-26)(ESV)

My family is hurting, but my faith has not been shaken. Jesus Christ is STILL Lord. His blood STILL sets men free. And during this time, I won't turn away from Him, I turn TO Him completely. If you're in a place of confusion, pain, or loss right now, I encourage you to do the same.

How can I say that? I know my Redeemer lives. That's the only answer I need.