“I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall NEVER die. Believest thou this?”
John 11:25-26
As much as we hear these words of Jesus, putting them into practice is very hard. Why is it hard? Because we’ve never died before. We’ve had loved ones, family members, and friends die, but we haven’t personally experienced it nor can we without leaving this physical world. This was the situation that Martha was living as her brother, Lazarus, had died, and she knew that “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
When we experience the death of a loved one, do we not ask Jesus the same question, “Lord, if only you had healed, or protected, or been here, he/she would still be alive today.” Yet, Jesus continues asking us, “Do you not believe that you who believes in me will NEVER die?”
Death has been all around us during the COVID pandemic. Now, with all that is happening in Ukraine, we are reminded of death on a daily basis. If it’s not innocent families, it’s innocent mothers, or it’s innocent children. War does not play favorites. It kills everyone in its path, the guilty as well as the innocent. It’s not fair!
However, Jesus reminds us during this Easter season that He is “the Resurrection and the Life”, and no one will die eternally by believing in Him. This is the HOPE that we have as believers in Jesus. No matter how hard it might be to wrap our finite minds around this concept. It is TRUE!
In my daily reading this morning, I read from Ezekiel 18.30b-32 – “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and Live!” God does not want us to die.
Will we not learn that God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to give us eternal life and life in abundance? May this Easter be the year in which we are certain that we will never die!
Until Next Month,
Bro. Lyle