THE BATTLE OF LIFE

JOB 7:1

A. "IS THERE NOT A WARFARE TO MAN UPON EARTH?"
  1. When Job raised the question of our text:
    1. He had nothing but a battle on his hands
    2. Satan not only deprived him of his property, but, also, of his loved ones
  2. If that were not enough difficulties for a man of sorrows:
    1. His body was racking with pain
    2. But to heighten his suffering, his own wife suggested to him to curse God and die
    3. The men that professed to be his friends increased his agony by fault-finding, until he called them "miserable comforters" - Job 16:2 B. THE BATTLE
  3. All life is a battle:
    1. Darwin called life - "The struggle for existence"
    2. Someone else said, "No life can maintain itself in nature save at the price of battle"
    3. It matters not whether it be a shrub, a tree, or a flower, or an animal, each living thing lives to fight for its existence
  4. Scientists divide the world into:
    1. The organic
    2. The inorganic - it assures us that the inorganic is destitute of life - such as the rock, the sand
    3. Where as the plants and animals are a living world or kingdom
  5. What is true of nature is true also of men:
    1. All human progress has been through conflict
    2. The apostle Paul speaks of "our warfare" - 2 Cor. 10:3-5; "great conflict" - Col. 2:1; "the good fight" - I Tim. 6:12
    3. The intellectual advancement of the race comes through struggle
    4. What is till more important is the glorious concept of divine truth has come to the lovers of truth through a severe struggle
    5. Every moral attainment is the fruit of victory over the forces of immorality; Examples: That is the answer to the fame of Joseph, of Daniel, of many other heroes in God's kingdom C. LET US CONSIDER TWO RELATED FACTS OF THE BATTLE OF LIFE
  6. Its necessity:
    1. For it is by conflict that true progress is made - that is true in nature, and that is true in human experience - Examples - Scientists tell of animals and birds that conquered certain climates by their ability to adjust themselves to the rigors of their environment
    2. It is by conflict that the human race makes progress - think, if you please, of the astounding progress of natural science during the last one hundred years; the achievements stagger the imagination, but if one traces the progress you will find that it was a perpetual battle all the way
    3. It is a perpetual struggle that brings to light the hidden resources in us as individuals and as a nation
  7. Its purpose; is it money? is it knowledge? - what is it?
    1. Some risk their health and life to make money; yet die pitifully disillusioned
    2. Others struggle to attain fame and recognition and finally die in infamy
    3. To this writer the purpose of the great human struggle is to overcome the enemies of our soul - Satan and our inborn evil tendencies - Rom. 7:7-22
  8. The victory:
    1. The battle of life ends and it is meant to end in victory - Phil. 3:13-14
    2. Writes that valiant soldier of the cross, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing" - 2 Tim. 4:7-8
    3. The key to our victory is our connection with the captain of our salvation - Jesus Christ - I Cor. 15:57; Phil. 2:12-13; 4:13


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