Pastor Bob DuPar
August 23, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Job 8:1-11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 21:28-29

Observation

I liked Job 8:13-15,

“Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider’s web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold.”

In 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 Paul clearly explains the importance of Christ’s resurrection,

“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. …And, if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. …Those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

Finally, I thought 1 Corinthians 15:26, 28 was powerful,

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death. …When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all.”

Application

Those who forget God may prosper for a season but there success will be quickly blown away; and, they will be forgotten – they will leave no legacy.

Our hope in Christ is not that everything will work-out to our liking in this life, but rather it is knowing that this life pales in comparison to the life to come. “He is no fool who gives what he can’t keep to keep what he cannot lose!” (Jim Elliott – martyred missionary to the Auca Indians) I need to base my hope more upon this life to come instead of this present life.

Finally, Christ will be made subject to God the Father in the last days, not because He is inferior or less than fully equal with God, but because that is the divine role He will assume. I need to view roles of submission as wonderful opportunities to obey God and not as statements of my worth or importance.

Prayer

“Jesus, thank You that You did rise from the grave, our faith is not in vain, and we are not still dead in our sins. Thank You for being obedient to death and securing our salvation and victory over sin. Amen.”