Life From Death

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24 NKJV.

Like many of you, I am in isolation, or lockdown.  My wife and I are staying at the home of my sister and brother-in-law, who have generously opened their home and hearts to us.  (The reason we’re here is that our house has just sold; when we heard that the lockdown was on its way because of the coronavirus we made the quick decision to move out.  Please join with us in prayer that the sale goes through and settles.  Thank you!).

Unprecedented.  Uncommon.  Unheard-of.  Unparalleled.  The likes of which this generation has not seen.  Certainly, true descriptions of this time.  The coronavirus has already changed the course of human history.  The world, its economy, and people’s lives will be different.

The gravity of this moment does not escape me.  Who knows what the future holds?  (Well we know that God does for sure – remember He is Omniscient!).  The world’s economy, inter-country trade, world travel, and even politics may never be the same for a long time.

I feel deeply for every BriefWord reader wherever you are.  May you know God’s protection, His peace and His provision.  This Easter will be like no other.  Many churches around the world will be unable to meet as they usually do.  Yet the message and meaning of the Easter story rings more true and is more urgent then ever!

The picture above is a copy of a photo that sits above my temporary desk, which my sister took while on holiday, at Lake Paringa on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand.  An old, dead tree, with new life growing out of it.  It depicts beautifully the power of the Gospel, the work of Christ on the Cross, bringing life from death.

At this Easter time amidst the massive media coverage of the coronavirus, let’s not forget what Easter is really about.  I think we’ll be falling all over ourselves with opportunities to tell the truth, to declare and disclose, disseminate and divulge, report and reveal, to proclaim and publish the Gospel.

Many deaths from the virus are happening daily.  How many of them knew Jesus?  How many of them will be ushered into the presence of our Saviour?  How many of them will not pass from death to life but remain in perpetual death forever, because they didn’t hear God’s word or believe Him?

But the text for this BriefWord gives us hope and speaks truth.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24 NKJV.

I like to produce a chart or table which helps us understand the Scripture and helps to bring out the full meaning of certain phrases.

John 5:24

… he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me…

This is a good word for us at this time.  Oh how we need to stay close to Jesus, spend time in His presence with His word, and listen to what He would say.  Then, we believe His word, and we have the faith to act upon it.

Let’s be like the young Samuel, who at Eli’s word, says, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears”.  (1 Samuel 3:9 NKJV).  Let’s come to the Lord with a quiet heart, first ready to listen, rather than with a long list of requests, so its more like, “Listen, Lord, for Your servant speaks”.

Remember:

God still loves us.  Nothing will ever change that.  Maybe you need to know that even in the midst of some form of death, God still loves you and can bring new life!  He will speak to us.  He will encourage us.  He will resurrect.

We can still care.  We can still love on people.  There are some things we cannot do right now, but there’s a lot we can.  We can care for one another.  The form of that love and care will change.  We may not be able to meet in person, but pick up the phone, send a text, an email, a video, and a prayer!  Reach out to family and friends and neighbours.  Be a blessing!  AND, receive love and care from others.

Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith! Galatians 6:10 TPT (The Passion Translation).

There’ll be people in our sphere who may be experiencing some form of death.  But Jesus in us is life!  The closer we get to Him the better able we will be to share that life and power.  Be prayerful and ready for those moments.

Psalm 91, is a word in season I believe for this time.  Be encouraged.

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Psalm 91:3-6 NKJV.

Amen!  God loves you.  God’s got this!

This Easter, let’s not be carried away by fear, and lets not overconsume the media reports about the virus; it will pass.  By all means we must be wise and do what we must do, do everything the government tells us to do.  But let’s also remember this Easter that God is about life not death.

We know that we have passed from death to life … 1 John 3:14 NKJV.

What a transition!  What a passing over!  What a LIFE!