OUR DAILY BREAD Monday, April 17, 1995 --------------- READ: Job 14 THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE "Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." -- 1 Corinthians 15:20 A little over a month before he died, the famous atheist Jean-Paul Sartre declared that he so strongly resisted feelings of despair that he would say to himself, "I know I shall die in hope." Then, in profound sadness, he would add, "But hope needs a foundation." The patriarch Job had a foundation -- his faith in God. When he was suffering and feeling that death would come soon, he experienced mixed feelings -- dread, despair, and hope. There were times when it seemed as if God was his enemy. Yet he kept believing that the Lord does right and loves His people. In the end, hope triumphed over despair. During the past 45 years, I have ministered to the spiritual needs of scores of dying people. I've observed that many genuine believers experience the same mixture of feelings Job had. They dread dying. Death is an unwelcome intruder to those who must face it in youth or during their prime years. Yet even in these situations, those who live close to Christ receive grace to die in hope. We who believe in Jesus base our hope on one of history's best documented events -- His resurrection. Moreover, when we "trust and obey," our confidence in Him grows, and hope triumphs over dread and despair. -- Herbert Vander Lugt The Christian's hope is in the Lord, He rests secure in his sure word; And when he's tempted to despair, He'll choose to trust God's love and care. -- Dennis J. De Haan ------------------------------------- THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ------------------------------------- To live without God means to die without hope. ------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 10-13 ========================================================================= Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are being archived at ICLnet by arrangement with Radio Bible Class. RBC is presently developing its own servers and we look forward to RBC's official presence here on the internet in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of Bible re- sources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221. Thanks to Larry Holder (lholder@utm.edu) for the email transcript of Our Daily Bread, having originated from his distribution to the Conservative Christian Discussion List. This copy was written permission from RBC. RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communications Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/. - ICLnet ========================================================================= ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950417.txt .