Job 30:23

23 For I know [yada`] that thou wilt bring [shuwb] me to death [maveth], and to the house [bayith] appointed [mow`ed] for all living [chay]. KJV-Interlinear

23 'For I know that Thou wilt bring me to death And to the house of meeting for all living. NASB

Well, whether by coincidence or design, we end this year and begin the new year with the confidence and promise that one day we will all die.

Interesting that we fall on this verse on this day in history.

The best instrument and arrogance killer, death, is the finality of all of our lives here on this earth.

Who controls life as well as death? God. And specifically Jesus Christ, unto whom all power and authority has been given.

There is no one else and no thing, in heaven, in this universe, on or under the earth who can stand up and say that he or it, can command life and death at his will.

And yet the world is full of those who have talent and celebrityship who believe that they are somehow greater than life and death. There are those who lack talent and lack celebrityship who believe that they are somehow greater than life and death. There are those who believe that they can imagine or conjure up true beliefs at will, and that everything they believe is true.

And so a truth deficient world lives in delusion. Believing that every catastrophe is a challenge for human ingenuity to overcome, that every issue is a reality designed to alter mans standards of life, that every imagination becomes the ultimate destiny of man - without God.

And yet, man, though he perpetuates biological life, does not create human life. Man who races toward knowledge, cannot save himself.

Life is as elusive from mans control as is his ability to prevent death.

God appoints life and God appoints death.

For all there is an appointment to die, once at the very least. And beyond death we have no control except during life when we can either accept or reject Christ.

We have no control, no real control, over the details of our life, in this life. Just living from day to day should be enough of an education to prove that. How much less control, do we have over our physical death?

This new years eve, people all over the world will celebrate the departure of the old year ('07) and the ringing in of a new one ('08). And yet, will they see the challenge that God will lay before them?

With each passing heartbeat, with each passing month and year, we all advance toward our ultimate departure from this life. For some it will be sooner. For others it will be later. But for all death will arrive for certain.

The parties of this world will last for a while and then they will cease and be forgotten.

In the spiritual life, the hardships of this life will last for a little while and then be forgotten, and then the parties of eternity will last forever.

This past year we have spent all of out time in the Book of Job. Job has revealed more than just the suffering nature of human life. Job has revealed Gods ultimate control over all aspects of life, and that living under Gods control, life is always better, regardless of ones circumstances, than it would be outside of Gods control.

One more year has vanished right before our eyes. What have you learned?

Another year lay before us, what are you determined to learn?

I hope and pray that this holiday season has been good to you, and that this coming year will greet you with greater blessings than you can imagine. Even in suffering.

From the depths of my soul, I wish to thank all who have continued to support this Bible study. From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

'And now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory, and majesty, and dominion and power, before time, now, and forever. Amen.'

Now is the time to post a prayer.