Glory in Jesus

Job 9:2-3 reads, "Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?  [3] If one wished to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand."  When we read this verse tonight during our family Bible reading, my mind instantly thought of the game show "Jeopardy!".  I haven't watched the show in years, but during my teen years I enjoyed trying to answer the questions before the contestants.  Occasionally I would know the correct answer, and rarely I would give the right answer twice in a row!  I can't say that I have ever correctly answered a final Jeopardy! question, and I certainly never could have qualified to appear on the show.

In 2004, Ken Jennings appeared on 75 consecutive shows, winning 74 times in a row.  He amassed over 2.5 million dollars during these games.  Even though he was absolutely dominant, even he did not answer every question correctly.  It's amazing to consider that even someone as smart as Jennings concerning trivia could not answer God one time of a thousand concerning his righteousness.  No man or woman who walks the earth can justify themselves before God either by their works, intentions, possessions, or by any means.  No one has the power or ability to contend with God or "shut Him down."  God will not "talk to the hand:"  He created the hand, and has the power and right to incinerate every one of them with the fires of hell. 

Romans 3:19 says, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."  All mankind is condemned under God's perfect law, and He has offered atonement and salvation through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  This is how God's great love for us has been manifested:  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!  If our salvation from sin could be obtained through knowledge alone, Ken Jennings and many Pharisees would have fared quite well.  But the fact remains that repentance and faith in Jesus is the narrow gate through we must stoop to enter eternal rest in Heaven.  We are qualified not through information but the blood of Jesus Christ shed for the remission of sins and His imputed righteousness toward us.  1 Cor. 1:30-31 affirms:  "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."  Young men boast in their strength, and the learned might glory in their knowledge, but may we live to glorify Christ alone.