We are all related to death, just as Adam and Eve were told "dust you are and to dust you will return." The wages of sin as Paul wrote is death, thus through Adam and Eve death came to all men. Our seventy year span of life is very brief, childhood appears to stretch endlessly and time passes slowly. Then as we get older, time appears to fly past. The passage of time is marked by possessions wearing out, changes in life, the death of loved ones, our own weakening and ageing. Finally old age comes to all as we read in Ecclesiastes:
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"— before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;” … “Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" Eccles 12:1-2; 6-8
Now is the time to seek God, for when death finally comes, we know that "The dead know nothing they have no further reward and even the memory of them is forgotten, their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished, never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun". Eccl 9:5
That is the final end of all those in the world about us and is our own natural state. All are prone to vanity, life ultimately is meaningless. Meaningless that is, unless we remember the injunction of Eccles 12:13-14. "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." We are no different from any other man, save for one thing, God has called us to know His word!! It does us good to remember the hopeless state from which we are called. Not to dishearten us, but rather that we continue to appreciate what we have been given and remember the wonderful contrast between our natural state and the hope that we do have. Paul writes:
"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" 1Cor 15:1-3.
Maybe we can recall that Jesus said "You remain in my love if you obey my commands". Paul writes that we are saved "if we hold firmly to the word", and David writes in Psalm 119:30-31 "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame." We shall not be put shame if we do hold fast to the word by which we are saved. Paul speaks in 1Cor Ch. 15 about the great hope of resurrection. Despite our sin and the frailty of the nature we possess, we do have a lively and living prospect ahead:
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." 1 Cor 15:20-22.
We are called to life. But why do we want life? Eternal life is not for it's own sake, but to serve God. Thus Jesus said "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3. Can you imagine resurrection? Yes, it is hard to imagine, but we have three examples of resurrection in the gospel records to help us understand.
Firstly in Luke Ch. 7 we read that Jesus approached a town called Nain, he saw a funeral procession, ‘the only son his mother’. We read v13 "When the Lord saw her his heart went out to her and he said don't cry"......."He said young man I say to you get up. The dead man got up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother".
So we see the great compassion of Jesus displayed, and note that he had the authority to give the son back to his mother again.
Secondly in Luke 8:40-56 we have the account of Jairus the synagogue ruler who had a daughter that was dying. He pleaded with Jesus to come and heal her, but she was dead upon their arrival. Jesus told the mourners "stop wailing, she is not dead but asleep". The mourners laughed at him, they had no faith, but he, taking her by the hand said "maid arise and her spirit came again, and she arose straightway".
Finally we have the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus is told "Lord the one you love is sick" John 11:3. We can imagine the urgency of those words. What would you do if the urgent summons came regarding a loved one who was seriously ill? Surely we would go immediately, but Jesus did not. It was not that he did not care, but rather Jesus said "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the son of man might be glorified thereby". (v4)
Jesus’ love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus is unmistakable, and their faith, love and trust in Jesus is also evident from the account. Lazarus must have been striving to live a life of faith, and died according to that faith. For him all had ended at that point, and having been in the tomb four days corruption would have set in. Such indeed is our destiny also. But Jesus states that he was glad that he had not been there "to the intent you may believe". Yes, this event was also for his disciple’s sake, and indeed also for our sake, to strengthen faith and belief in our Messiah.
Jesus finally arrived at the house of Mary and Martha. Martha went out to meet Jesus saying "Lord If you had been here my brother would not have died" In our grief do we ever feel that, Lord why? If only? So many situations in life could provoke that response. Our minds are focussed upon this life, we cannot see God's wisdom, it is hard to trust that in all that happens to us, God has our best interest at heart, even in death. We read:
"The righteous perish and no one ponders it in his heart, devout men are taken away and no one understands, that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death". Isaiah 57:1-2
God is merciful, nothing is allowed without a reason. Martha continues in words showing her faith, "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." John 11:22-27 Jesus assured her, "your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
What a remarkable faith she had, if only we could always have that same level of confidence. Martha then went to fetch Mary and her words were much the same "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died". Once again we see the great love and compassion of Jesus, "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept." John 11:33-35
"Jesus wept", the shortest verse in the Bible, yet so expressive. How great was [and is] the compassion of our Lord, how aware he was of the futility of our existence, born to die! Surely, all is vanity. In the garden of Gethsemane did this thought strengthen Jesus? For without all that he accomplished, all his dear friends would have no hope. Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away:
- "Lord by now he stinketh, for he hath been dead four days".
- "Did I not tell you if you would believe, you would see the glory of God"
- "Then Jesus looked up and said, Father I thank you that you have heard me (How small is our faith compared this) I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me"..."Lazarus come out".
The dead man obeyed and came forth from the grave. According to God's mercy so shall we.
We cannot even begin to imagine the feelings of those sisters or the feelings of Lazarus himself. Jesus has said "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live". We have great comfort and hope from those words. We have believed and if we remain faithful we shall in God's mercy live. We have read of the great compassion and understanding that Jesus had of our state. Thus Paul writes:
"We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin". Hebrews 4:15-16
Jesus knew our temptations, he understood Martha and Mary's doubts and incomprehension about resurrection, he understands our lack of full understanding. Even with the hope the faithful have, death is not something to be sought, it is still a fearful thing, complete oblivion.
Jesus knew that fear, he tasted death. Yet he knew that his own resurrection would come, and his resurrection is the guarantee that we also shall be raised: "but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: `You are a priest for ever.'" Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." Heb 7:21-22 We are through baptism are related to that better covenant.
Shall we will hear the great commanding voice "Come forth", be it from the grave or from among the 'dead' of this world. But the resurrection and entering the Kingdom will not be without trial or hardship. We must walk in the footsteps of our Master and the faithful who have gone before. We will know many sorrows just as he did. Jesus was well prepared for his suffering and we must prepare now for our troubles to come. We read in Daniel "There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations". Daniel 12:1
We must be prepared, and be found watching and waiting. Friends in this world will be no good then, only the Master will be of help. The prophet Daniel records "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt". Dan 12:2. Many are called, but few are chosen. Why? It is not through lack of mercy or love, for God is not willing that any should perish. Rather we will perish because of our own lack of faith, hardening our hearts, preferring pleasure now, rather than seeking first the Kingdom of God. All must, and will, render an account of their lives to Christ. Before him every knee shall bow.
Yet we have no need for fear or despondency if we hold fast to the gospel message. We do have a certain hope set before us, as Peter writes:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:3-4
The day will soon be here when the things we see through the eye of faith, shall at last be turned into reality. The great day of resurrection from the dead, to life in the Kingdom of God shall come. Again, Daniel records "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever". Dan12:3 Daniel like so many others died in faith, certain of his hope. Those words spoken to Daniel apply also to the household of faith, "As for you go your way. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive your allotted inheritance". Daniel 12:13 The ‘end of days’ is not far off, the Lords return is near, so let us strive the harder to make our calling and election sure. For our hope is certain! We shall rise to receive our allotted inheritance.
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:54
Andy P.