Only the conquered can know true blessedness. This is sound philosophy, based upon life, and necessary by the constitution of things. We need not accept this truth blindly; the reasons are discoverable, among them being these: We are created beings, and as such are derived, not self-existent. Not to us has it been given to have life in ourselves. For life we are wholly and continually dependent upon God, the Source and Fountain of life. Only by full dependence upon Him are the hidden potentialities of our natures realized. Apart from this we are but half-men, malformed and unbeautiful members of a noble race once made to wear the image of its Creator.
Once in olden times the Lord declared that the end of all flesh had come before Him, and the years have brought no mitigation of that sentence. “They that are in the flesh cannot please God . . . The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be . . . To be carnally minded is death.” By such words as these has God perpetuated the ancient sentence of condemnation. Whether we admit it or not the stroke of death is upon us, and it will be saving wisdom for us to learn to trust not in ourselves but in Him that raiseth the dead. For how dare we put confidence in anything so fugitive, so fleeting, as human life?
Verse
The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Romans 8:7
Thought
For life we are wholly and continually dependent upon God, the Source and Fountain of life. Only by full dependence upon Him are the hidden potentialities of our natures realized.
Prayer
Gracious Father, our hope and our confidence are in You, and only You.