From Job 14:
1“Man who is born of a woman
is few of days and full of trouble.
2 He comes out like a flower and withers;
he flees like a shadow and continues not.
3 And do you open your eyes on such a one
and bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
There is not one.
5 Since his days are determined,
and the number of his months is with you,
and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
6 look away from him and leave him alone,
that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.
From this passage one learns that:
- man’s (used in the generic sense) days are few
- man’s days are full of trouble
- man’s glory soon fades
- man’s nature is fallen
- man’s days are fixed
The reason why man’s present condition is what it is is because he is alienated from God and adverse to God. The Bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It further says that we are by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind (Ephesians 2:1-3). But in spite of this we can become what we are not – we can be accepted in Christ. Subsequent verses of Ephesians chapter 2 go on to say:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Moreover, Romans 5:8-10 says:
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Finally, it must be said that we are accountable for the life-choices we make. If we humbly come to Jesus Christ in faith and repentance, recognizing him for who he is – the Giver of Life who laid down his life in order that those who receive him might freely receive the gift of life – we shall find that we are no longer alienated from or adverse to God, but accepted in the Beloved.
John :37 – All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 1: 12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
