I Know

April 17, 1960

Across the Northern Hemisphere the sun slowly warms the land that has been lying dormant throughout the winter. Within a matter of days, trees that were once lifeless sprout beautiful flowers, and empty fields are filled with the rich colors of spring. All of nature seems to resurrect at once.

It’s an inspiring sight to see the magnificence of God’s creation. Every spring the life of nearly all nature is born again and comes back into existence for us to behold. It is part of God’s perfect plan, and it types a perfect resurrection.

Spring Flowers

The prophet Job pondered these things while going through his trials and tribulations. He wondered how the lower life of the plants compared to the higher life of a human. The trees die off each year and yet life flows back into the limbs each spring and grows fresh green leaves. The toiling flowers wilt and die at the end of each summer, yet sprout and bloom again at the changing of the seasons. But when man dies he is mourned over by his loved ones and buried beneath the dust of the ground, never to rise again. He wondered why God would let a lower life like the trees and flowers live again, but not a man. These thoughts troubled Job. He feared the thought of dying, with no hope of a new life.

Job was put in great distress by the devil and endured trials and tribulations that would seem unimaginable today. He was on an ash heap and could find no words of consolation from friends or family, all of whom forsook him. But through his weakness and trials, he was made strong in the knowledge of a Redeemer. He lost all fear of death.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me… (JOB 19:25-27)

Tomb

Brother Branham talks about the crushing of a flower to bring out the perfume. He said, “It takes a crushing of a life to get the best out of it that there is. That's the reason Jesus had to be crushed to bring forth what He was.” That’s the reason all of God’s children have to come through the same thing. We have to go through that same crushing and crucifixion to recognize God’s promise. It wasn’t until Noah went through the flood for forty days and nights that he saw the covenant rainbow. Before Abraham could see Elohim there had to be twenty-five years of testing. It wasn’t until the Hebrew children went into the fiery furnace that they beheld One like the Son of God. And it wasn’t until Job was on an ash heap that he saw the blessed Redeemer; he saw Easter.

Jesus

It is the same for us. But how much more ought we to rejoice than Job. Jesus Christ has risen from the grave and sent His Holy Spirit upon us as a promised Seal that we too shall live. We must go through our trials and tribulations, and be crucified as Christ to die out to the things of this world before we can have a resurrection and know that our Redeemer liveth. Then we’ll recognize what Easter truly is.

Just remember this Easter if you’re going through tough times what Brother Branham said:

“That's the way you see the promise, after you've gone through the tribulation. I've liked that poem, or psalm:

• Must I be carried home to Heaven on a flowerly bed of ease,
• While others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?

We ask for comfort and peace; God gives us the best He could give us: trials and tribulations. That's better than comfort and peace. Our comforts is just beyond the river.” 60-0417S – I Know