Life on earth is certainly a great struggle. The tiny chick struggles to peck its way out of its shell.  The butterfly wrestles persistently to break free of its cocoon. The salmon rushes upstream, full of zeal and determination to propagate the next generation before it dies. A billion sperm cells fervently strive to be the one to reach the egg. All the others will die trying.

The mother labors in pain to bring that new life into the world. And as Job said, “Man is born to trouble, as surely as sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7) Surely the ancients understood that there was a purpose for the struggle. Even nature teaches us that the little chicken would not have the strength it needs to live without the great effort it takes to escape from its shell, the butterfly would not be strong enough to fly, and the salmon would quickly become extinct apart from its treacherous journey upstream to where it was spawned. So also Job understood that man’s struggle on earth would determine his eternal destiny.

“If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait
until my change comes.” (Job 14:14)

What Is Man?
So who does man think he is? Who does God think man is?