THE DEAD COME BACK TO LIFE

Not even death can limit God from showing His power and might. Right from the fall of Adam when God reduced man's lifespan, death has been believed to be the final bus stop for man, at least here on earth. But even that does not and can not stop God.

There are various instances in the Bible where the seemingly impossible situation of death, was turned around by God. In 1 Kings 17:17-21, the son of the widow who fed Elijah in the time of famine, took ill suddenly and died. Elijah carried the boy into his room and he cried out to the Lord asking Him to restore life to the boy. Verse 22 says “And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”

Next, let’s take a look at 2 Kings 4:18-34. The Shunnamite woman who regularly entertained Prophet Elisha suddenly lost her son to the jaws of death. She carried her son’s body to Elisha and when Elisha prayed and laid upon the boy twice, verse 35b said, “and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.”

2 Kings 13:21 is an interesting account. A dead man who was about to be buried was thrown on the bones of Elisha. Immediately his body touched the bones of Elisha, life was restored to him.

Let us journey to the New Testament. In Mark 5:21-34, Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter who was sick at the time. But in verse 35, He was told not to bother with the girl anymore because she had died. When Jesus arrived at the house, He told the people who were already mourning that the girl was merely asleep. He followed this up by taking her hand in verse 41 and telling her to rise. Verse 42a says, “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked.” In Luke 7:11-15, Jesus intercepted a burial procession. A widow was going to bury her only son but Jesus encountered her. He told her son to arise. Verse 15 says, “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak...” 

John 11 contains the popular story of Lazarus. What distinguishes this from others is that not only was Lazarus dead, his body had already started decomposing and yet, God could not be stopped. Not only was he brought back to life, the process of decomposition was instantly reversed and he was made whole. 

Moving on to the Acts of the Apostles after Jesus had ascended into Heaven. Acts 9:36-42 tells the story of a certain disciple called Tabitha (Dorcas) who was known for her good deeds. She fell sick and died. The apostle Peter was sent for and he knelt down and prayed for her after which he spoke to the body and said “arise” and she opened her eyes and sat up, life restored.

In Acts 20:7-12, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep and fell down from a third floor window. Death was instantaneous. The apostle Paul was unperturbed. He fell on him and hugged him then got up to eat and preach. After Paul left, it was recorded that the young man was alive.

Matthew 28:1-18, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-36 and John 20:1-20, all give the glorious account of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection greatly displayed the power of God Almighty. There was no need for anyone to pray for Him to be resurrected, there was no laying of hands or fasting. Christ died like He said and He arose on the third day like He said. Death couldn’t withstand Him of course. The grave couldn’t hold Him in. No principality or power could stop Him from coming back to life. 

Interestingly, Matthew 28:50-53 recorded that at the point Christ gave up His spirit on the cross, the tombs were opened and many of the saints who had died came back to life. They came out of their tombs and went into the holy city. 

Personally, I have also experienced this wondrous power of God. A patient of mine who was certified dead and already wrapped up for burial, had life restored to him by God when I touched him. The man who was supposed to be buried is now alive, healthy and a happy family man. What a great God!

Going a step further from life here on earth, the more wondrous fact is that Christ's death brought eternal life to humanity. For by Adam we were all dead in sin. By Adam, mortality was the end for us but through Christ we were made alive. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, to come as the final and ultimate sacrifice that by His blood, man would be fully reconciled to God. That the breach that was created by Adam would be closed permanently. That man would be reversed from his downward spiral to death. Whosoever believeth in Christ will not perish but have eternal life. We who were once dead can now have life.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (Emphasis added). For all who have accepted Christ as their Lord and who diligently serve Him, death on earth isn’t something to be feared because it is but a means to an end. Eternal life, glory, great reward, joy, crowns, and so much more that we are yet to know, beyond our imaginations. Those whose names are found written in the Book of Life will be called unto eternal life.

For those who refuse to accept Christ, death on earth should be feared, not because it is an end in itself but because it will usher them into a much worse fate. None should even contemplate this. 

I enjoin each and everyone to make the decision to live today. If you want to be among those who will not perish but live eternally with Christ, there is only one way. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life...” The way to Heaven is Jesus Christ. If you want to enjoy life eternal, choose Christ because He is life.

DO YOU KNOW THAT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR YOU TO LIVE FOREVER?

With the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden came death. The good news? The story did not end there! John 3:16 continued the story with, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” Yes, you got that right... everlasting life!

One great thing you need to know about God is that He does not give up on us. His hands of mercy are always stretched out, waiting for us to see the error in our ways and reach out to Him. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that God is the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This means we are no longer doomed to destruction. We have that never failing hope that though we die, yet shall we live. John 11:25

The key is to accept Jesus Christ into our lives. He is the way out. John 3:17 tells us, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved”. Acknowledge and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came to save you, for John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.

Regardless of how bad or evil you think you are, salvation is open to everyone. We were all born sinners, Romans 3:23 clearly says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. This means no man was born perfect, no man was born already saved. Ignore that voice telling you that you are not good enough or that no one can save you or whatever negative thing you are hearing. Those are all lies. Luke 23:39-43 tells the story of two thieves that were crucified with Jesus, one wasted that opportunity and decided to mock Jesus instead. The second thief on the other hand, recognised it as his only opportunity to enter into eternal life and he utilised it. The thief said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” And Jesus said to him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise”. Luke 23:42-43. And just like that, a person who had spent his last days stealing and was being executed for it, gained everlasting life only because he believed.   

Are you out there still wallowing in sin? Christ is waiting for you. No need to waste any more time. Stop having sex outside wedlock, stop cheating people, stop watching pornography, stop fantasizing about your neighbour's wife or husband, stop flirting with your secretary or your colleague as a married person, desist from pride, greed and laziness, desist from those outbursts of anger. Christ is waiting! Christ is waiting for you! Just open your heart to Him, invite Him into your life. The latter part of Matthew 9:13 says, “For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.

Or did you once believe in Christ but in the course of life you have gone astray, you have forgotten your first love, you have departed from the path of righteousness? Do not be disheartened, there is always a provision for a U-turn. You can come back to Christ, He has not given up on you, He has not turned His back on you. Remember the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. A son beloved of the father decided to leave the true path and go on his own way. When he returned to the father to beg to be treated as a slave, was he turned away? No! The father threw a huge feast in his honour and welcomed him with open arms. Do you remember the story of Peter? After working so closely with Christ, learning at His feet and seeing so many miracles, he denied Christ at the first sign of trouble in Matthew 26:69-75. Peter denied Christ not once, not twice but three times. Still, that was not the end of his story. The same Peter who denied Christ three times won about three thousand souls after preaching his first sermon in Acts 2:14-41 and he went on to become one of the pillars of the early church.

Have you been an unsteady Christian? Hot today, cold tomorrow. Or has your faith been shaken by the challenges of life and you find yourself beginning to entertain doubts or harbouring anger against God? Your case is not lost, your story is not finished. The apostle Paul testified in 2 Timothy 3:11 that, “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 2 Timothy 3:12 also says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. This means you and I as Christians, should not expect the road to be smooth all the way, there will definitely be bumps and gallops and flat tyres and fuel stops in this journey of life but God is always there to see us through. Return to God today, hold unto Him again and this time around, don’t let go. 

Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me”. This is an invitation to you, yes you! Christ is at the door of your heart knocking. Open the door today and accept Him as your Lord and personal saviour. Romans 10:9 concludes that, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”. And as simple as that, eternal life will become yours!