Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. – Job 14:1

Today's Scripture Reading (August 25, 2024): Job 14

In the Star Trek: The Original Series" episode "Balance of Terror," the Enterprise is called to the edge of the neutral zone to investigate the destruction of outposts that monitor the border between the Federation and the Romulan Empire. The investigation leads the Enterprise into a fight with an experimental Romulan ship. It is a fight that almost destroys the Enterprise; the fight does destroy the Romulan ship.

"Balance of Terror" is regularly praised as one of the best Star Trek episodes of the franchise. In 2016, "The Washington Post" ranked "Balance of Terror" as the best episode of "The Original Series" and the third best episode of the Star Trek Franchise, finishing after two "The Next Generation" episodes, "Best of Both Worlds" (#1) and "Darmok" (#2).

"Balance of Terror" begins with a wedding on the Enterprise. The emergency with the Romulans interrupts the wedding, and when the dust settles at the end of the episode, one of the betrotheds has died. It is an excellent reminder of the fragility of life.

Job begins to speak of what he didn't understand before he experienced his present tragedy. Now, with everything he had lost, he understood the fragility of life. Job had lost everything; the loss of his life didn't seem to be much more. His days were few, and especially now, it was full of trouble.

"Balance of Terror" highlighted our fragility and was one of the highest-rated episodes of the Star Trek franchise. It also gave us one of the best quotes from the franchise. Near the end of the story, Dr. McCoy comes to counsel the Captain of the Enterprise. Amid everything that was going on, even the ever-confident Captain Kirk was questioning his ability in this moment. McCoy's advice?

In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one named Kirk (Dr. Leonard McCoy, Balance of Terror, Star Trek: The Original Series).

The story of Job emphasizes the fragility of life, but it also stresses its value. Even though his friends have found him guilty, Job is still of great value to God. His circumstances do not reflect the value that God saw in him, just as your circumstances do not reflect the value that God sees in you.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Job 15