Ep. 20 - S - Easter - What Words Will You Engrave Forever? - Job 19:23-27

S = Sermon This sermon was preached at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Helenville, WI, on Easter, March 31, 2024. Pastor Titus Buelow asked the challenging question, "What words will you engrave forever?" On your tombstone, what do you want your family and friends to write? What do you hope they say as they visit around your grave? Is that the current description you would give to your life? This sobering question gets us to consider what our life is all about and what makes it worth the living. What makes our life more than a mad sprint until death? Job knew. Job knew life was more than earthly comforts, easy times, then tragedy, and even excruciating pain. Job had known and did know all of these things personally. And yet when he considers what he wants engraved in rock forever, he shares what is the most important message that transcends it all, "I know that my redeemer lives. And in my flesh, I will see the Lord. I myself will see him - with my own eyes! How my heart yearns within me." Job knew that God would redeem his life, and bring him into his presence forever. This was a fact, a fact that helped him persevere through the doubt and fear of his troubles. May we learn from Job's endurance and faith! Job 19:23-27 “Oh, that my words were recorded,    that they were written on a scroll,24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,    or engraved in rock forever!25 I know that my redeemer lives,    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.26 And after my skin has been destroyed,    yet in my flesh I will see God;27 I myself will see him    with my own eyes—I, and not another.    How my heart yearns within me!