We were studying the raising of Lazarus recently and it crossed my mind that it is not over until and unless God says it is over.
Imagine! A man is dying and his relations send for Jesus, the only One who can heal the sick man, the only true and great Physician in the whole wide world. He does not jump onto His donkey and race to the sickbed. Rather, He lingers in place. The story is recorded for us in John 11: 5-17; Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
It is at that point that most of us would start to question what sort of God we have signed up to serve. This God who does not rush to our aid - is He worth following? Is He worth loving? This is the point at which we say, like Peter, I go afishing, another way of saying "I am out of here." Particularly when you read that Jesus is delaying because of the great love that He has for you and your entire family. If your faith is so great that you do not abscond at this point, you will at least join other faith people and cry out, "Oh Lord, could you please love me less?"
He lingers; the disease does not improve, it gets worse. He is now at death's door. Still no Jesus, no help from God. Have you ever been frustrated with God and His frequently tardy ways? Most of us have been unhappy with God, but even here, it appears that He has a reason for delaying - that God may be glorified. John 11:4, When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Quite often, we are so focused on our situation that we miss what God is saying. This reason was given in an earlier verse, but we all tend to miss it as we earnestly yearn for God to rescue us. But He takes His time and if we will but hang in there and learn to wait on Him, rescue will come, even if the situation has died already.
The entire town thought it was over. By the time Jesus arrived, the family thought it was over. Both friends and foes could see clearly that it was over. Even the elements agreed that it was over - the man was starting to stink. The entire situation was over and done with, sealed in the tomb.
And then Jesus showed. All they needed to do was believe, according to Him. In John 11:25-26, we read, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do I believe? Do you? Then it is not over as long as He says it is not over
Be blessed.
Imagine! A man is dying and his relations send for Jesus, the only One who can heal the sick man, the only true and great Physician in the whole wide world. He does not jump onto His donkey and race to the sickbed. Rather, He lingers in place. The story is recorded for us in John 11: 5-17; Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
It is at that point that most of us would start to question what sort of God we have signed up to serve. This God who does not rush to our aid - is He worth following? Is He worth loving? This is the point at which we say, like Peter, I go afishing, another way of saying "I am out of here." Particularly when you read that Jesus is delaying because of the great love that He has for you and your entire family. If your faith is so great that you do not abscond at this point, you will at least join other faith people and cry out, "Oh Lord, could you please love me less?"
He lingers; the disease does not improve, it gets worse. He is now at death's door. Still no Jesus, no help from God. Have you ever been frustrated with God and His frequently tardy ways? Most of us have been unhappy with God, but even here, it appears that He has a reason for delaying - that God may be glorified. John 11:4, When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Quite often, we are so focused on our situation that we miss what God is saying. This reason was given in an earlier verse, but we all tend to miss it as we earnestly yearn for God to rescue us. But He takes His time and if we will but hang in there and learn to wait on Him, rescue will come, even if the situation has died already.
The entire town thought it was over. By the time Jesus arrived, the family thought it was over. Both friends and foes could see clearly that it was over. Even the elements agreed that it was over - the man was starting to stink. The entire situation was over and done with, sealed in the tomb.
And then Jesus showed. All they needed to do was believe, according to Him. In John 11:25-26, we read, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do I believe? Do you? Then it is not over as long as He says it is not over
Be blessed.
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