Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead – John 11: 43-44
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
With all the suffering, pain and sorrow we experience, coupled with a sense of hopelessness and despair, the world we live in can be a very depressing place, and the thought of Heaven is oh so appealing!
Especially for those of us, who have a past filled with victimization! An awesome promise from God, found in the Book of Revelation 21:4, makes me yearn for Eternity. The promise states: ”And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.“ I don’t know about you, but this promise is Heavenly music to my ears, and my battle weary soul!
Wrapped in our grave clothes, with cloths of shame covering our faces, many of us who have been raised from a spiritual death into our new lives in Christ Jesus, often wait patiently at the bus stop for the bus going to Heaven! Now please don’t misunderstand; there is nothing wrong with looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face! But God didn’t create us to merely exist, sitting around bound by our past sin, shame and guilt! Jesus died a cruel, criminal’s death on the Cross, and took upon Himself ALL our sin, shame and guilt, so that we can live fully in the Power of the Holy Spirit. He is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, Resident in each and every person who has made peace with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour!
Because of Jesus’s finished work at the Cross of Calvary, He conquered satan, sin and death, and freed us to live an abundant life right here on earth! God Our Loving Heavenly Father wants us to trust Him fully as He brings the necessary resources and people alongside us, to help us get out of our grave clothes and cloths of shame!
Dear precious, child of God Most High, will you trust Him to fully heal and restore you?
Prayer
Father God, thank you that you are a good, good Father with plans to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Please give me the courage to face the pain of my past (Genesis 50:20) and the faith to trust you to bring complete healing and restoration to my body, soul and spirit as You work all things out for my good (Romans 8:28), I Pray this in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Amen.