I Am the Resurrection and the Life

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I Am the Resurrection and the Life

When Jesus’ friend,  Lazarus,  had died  and Jesus was talking  to his sister Martha  about the resurrection,  Jesus said something  that we all need  to keep in mind.     In John 11:25-26,  Jesus said,

I am the resurrection  and the life;  he who believes  in Me  shall live  even if he dies,  and everyone  who lives and believes  in Me  shall never die.     Do you believe this?

This is what Jesus wants us  to believe — and He is asking us, “Do YOU believe this?”

Jesus pointed out  that we all certainly do go  through an earthly life process  of death.     Our earthly body ceases  to function  and we are buried  and our earthly body  decays.     But,  that is only  the outward appearance  of the matter  for Christians.     Over and above that,  Jesus asserts,  “Everyone who lives  and believes  in Me  shall never die.”

In saying,  “never die”,  Jesus means  that Christians simply pass  from this life  over to our heavenly home,  to be with our Lord forever — even though the earthly body  is decaying  in a grave.     The real “us” never dies.     That’s a most wonderful promise  that we know Jesus will keep  because He Himself  is resurrected  from the dead.     Jesus has the power  to have believers  simply pass over  into everlasting life.

Many people will give a sigh  of relief  when they hear this  and will think,  “Well good!      I know  about this Jesus.     He was a good guy  and really helped a lot  of people.     I’m sure Jesus really lived  and died  on that cross.     That means  I get to go  to heaven.”

Not so fast.     We do need  to believe  and do all  of God’s word — not just the parts  that seem  to be beneficial.     Jesus specifically says,  “Everyone who lives  and believes   in Me  shall never die.”      So,  we do need  to be doing  a couple things — live in Jesus,  and believe in Jesus.

How do we live  in Jesus?     “Living”  is the same as  “abiding”.      In John 15:10  Jesus explains  how His followers honestly “live”  in Him.     He says,

If you keep My commandments,  you will abide  in My love;  just as  I have kept My Father’s commandments,  and abide  in His love.

Commandments!!??      But, I’m not able  to keep a bunch  of commandments!     That’s true.     We are all born sinners.     How can we possibly  keep His commandments?     With love.     The whole book  of 1 John  talks about this.     When we honestly realize  and accept,  in fact,  that God Almighty  truly does love us  and proved  that love  in Jesus Christ,  we are enabled  to love God.     We read  in 1 John 4:19,  “We love,  because He first loved us.”

Then,  driven  by a love  for God,  we begin  to want  to live  in that love.     So,  instead of having rebellious feelings  towards God,  believing in His love  for us  in Christ Jesus,  develops a desire  to willingly live  in obedience.     1 John 5:3-5 explains,

For this is  the love  of God,  that we keep His commandments;  and His commandments  are not burdensome.     For whatever is born  of God  overcomes the world;  and this is the victory  that has overcome the world — our faith.     And who is the one  who overcomes the world,  but he who believes that Jesus is  the Son of God?

Let us always keep our eyes  on Jesus  and the great depths  of His love for us,  believing His every single word  to us.     As we learn  and return His love  for us,  He will enable us  to obey His commandments.        Willing obedience  is the result  of love.

So,  from beginning to end,  it is just a matter  of lovingly letting God work  in our lives.     With God  in our lives,  we will never die — but live  to His glory  and say,  “Hallelujah!     My Lord,  You truly do  all things  for me.     No wonder  Your praises are sung forever  in heaven.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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