Been to the Doctors lately? What was going through your mind – apart from the having to wait (perhaps at what seems far too long to get in, that is), or what it is going to cost you?

In the face of sickness do we not reflect in same way upon our mortality and vulnerability? It may take the form of something like ‘I can’t afford to get sick now!’ Or perhaps like ‘When will I ever be free from this…’
Are we not also to reflect on the present love and mercy of God? It may be a remembrance of Psalm 103:13-14, “As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” It may be thinking of Christ’s words to Paul in his continued illness, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9). So we also remember in faith the Lord’s compassion, love and sufficiency of grace even in such times of weakness – and are comforted and encouraged.

Yet should we not also be filled with hope and the joy of expectation brought about by the promise of the gospel encapsulated in Rev 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
It is no surprise then to see Jesus coming into this world exercising authority over sickness and disease, as He healed them, both validating and demonstrating His ministry to crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15).
In the New Creation that is coming because of Christ where there will be no sickness and death, for the curse is reversed in Christ.

Yet, even as we await that day we will all know the pangs, pains, perplexities, and perniciousness of disease in this life. We are headed for death. But we also know the presence of the Lord, and His comfort, interventions, moderations, and over-ruling of sickness as all other effects of the curse, such that we look for the good in and through disease, and beyond death to life. And so even in the most severest suffering we are able to give thanks (Phil 4:6).To God be the glory!

Literally he says ‘we are super conquerors!’ Not just victors but super
victors! “More than conquerors” – that is what we are now and how we will
regard ourselves through all eternity.
When the early church father Chrysostom was brought before the Roman
Emperor, the Emperor threatened him with banishment of he remained a
Christian.

Chrysostom replied, “Thou canst not banish me for this world is my father’s
house.” “But I will slay thee,” said the Emperor. “Nay, thou canst not,”
said the noble champion of the faith, “for my life is hid with Christ in
God.” “I will take away thy treasures.” “Nay, but thou canst not for my
treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.” “But I will drive thee away
from man and thou shalt have no friend left.” “Nay, thou canst not, for I
have a friend in heaven from whom thou canst not separate me. I defy thee;
for there is nothing that thou canst do to hurt me.”
How is it that we can say this? Is it because of personal stature, strength,
etc? Is it because of the church’s heritage, finances, numbers or political
influence?

No says Paul, it is “through Him who loved us” (v.37); it is a love “that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v.39).
Our resource, refuge and security is in God. Jesus is, and always will be,
the key to our perseverance and to our safety. In our weakness He reveals
His strength. In our poverty His riches. In our sorrow His comfort. In our
death His life. And He said “Behold I am with you always” (Matt 28:20)
We are more than conquerors!

If Job, who lived at the dawn of recorded history, centuries before the time of the Lord Jesus Christ – if Job knew these things, how much more should we know them, we who are aware of Christ’s resurrection and have witnessed His power in our lives. Job lived in a dark and misty time, before the dawning of the Lord Jesus Christ, that sun of righteousness. Job lived in an age before Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. If he had failed to understand about the resurrection and had failed to believe in it, who could blame him? Nobody. Yet he believed. How much more then should we?

Can you say with Job, ” I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God”? If so, then live in that assurance. Do not fear death. During the next twelve months death will certainly come for some, but there will also be a resurrection. Besides, Jesus is also coming and if that should happen soon, He will receive us all.

I add one more thought. We believe these truths, yes. But let us not only believe them; let us pass them on so that others may share in this resurrection faith also. What was Job’s desire after all? It was that his works might be preserved and that his faith in the resurrection might be save for coming generations. The resurrection hope has come down to us through many centuries of church history. Let’s pass it to our children and to our children’s children until the living Lord Jesus Christ returns in His Glory. Jesus Christ Lives. He Lives! Then let us tell others, and let us shout with Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that he will stand upon the earth”.

- Dr James Montgomery Boice, “The Christ of the Empty Tomb”