Thursday, October 4, 2007

Life in the Face of Death [further thoughts on resurrect]

Standing on the edge of death draws all of life into perspective doesn’t it? -- What really matters and what doesn’t are easily distinguished … When it comes to facing the reality of death no one is concerned about salaries or positions or all the great things you accomplished in high school .... No one asks about the car you drive, school you go to, do you start or sit the bench, what part of town you live in. --- As people age and death nears all the games and disguises of life seem pretty silly. --- As you grow older your birthday’s become less exciting because sub-consciously you now your one year, one day, one breath closer to your last.

Death is a frightening thing …. It’s kind of like when you were a little kid and were afraid of the dark. Dark wasn’t scary. “It’s what might be concealed in the dark that was/is frightening” … What might be there waiting for you.

Most of us do everything we can to extend our lives .... I love the title of David Crowder’s book – “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” It’s one thing to halt the process of decay and death; it is quite another to bring someone back to life. --- Jesus declares of himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die ... DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?? (25-26). .......... You really need to understand what Jesus is asking in the context of John chapter 11 …. Jesus is not simply asking Martha to confess Lazarus will live --- but that those who trust in Jesus Christ – even though they die – will be raised to never die again! --- It’s no longer just about Lazarus ... but the “all who believe in Jesus.”

Martha responds and says, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the World”. (27) ... This right here was really the big event in Bethany on this day! ..... Martha didn’t know why God had allowed this or that temptation, trial, disaster, or pain, ------- but the CONFESSION was the main thing! – “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

We need to understand that we have something wrong inside us? That we have dead spirits without Christ!! ....

There is no way to appreciate the life of God until you have seen what life looks like without it. -- Many of us have not only seen it, we have lived it. And unless something is done and done quickly, we will live out the rest of our lives having the finality of death as our only hope. -- Which is no hope at all.

But real life -- Our resurrected life is born out of the character of Christ coming to live inside of us by his spirit. The conversion of our heart is the turning point. … If I were to paraphrase one of my favorite verses Romans 5:8 It would say “while we were still searching aimlessly - desperately in the dark Christ brings light into our dark souls.” … Like one candle igniting another, His life lights ours.

But some will say I don’t know if I believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ … Because “I have lots of academic questions – I’ve read the latest book that claim Christianity is false – I have lots of questions, I took a philosophy class, I am very smart – and have many academic objections” …..

You know what, it’s not really academic objection to resist the resurrection of Jesus Christ ---- It is the hardness of heart that at then end of the day is truly the issue …. Most people who question the resurrection, are not denying it … Just questioning it --- Why? Because when it comes down to the brass tax of it all -- What are these people doing? -- Sinning …. And there left with a decision … If I believe in the resurrection of Christ then I need to repent of my sin and obey Jesus ---- But if I can convince myself that Jesus didn’t rise from the grave then I don’t need to worry, because nothing will happen when I die I’ll just be plant food …

This is logical outcome for those who don’t believe in eternal life … And what we need to come to realize is that eternity is a long time … and we will either be friends of God or his enemies …

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 says that it’s not that you are so smart … it’s not that the evidence isn’t there because Jesus life and death are historical fact both in religious and secular history … they are objective truths …

But some people look at those truths and say -- “Sorry, I just don’t believe them” …. But in reality what they are saying is “I don’t like them” … … Many will question Jesus resurrection and the reality of heaven and hell not because they don’t believe …. But because they don’t want to be held accountable to God!

It’s a rebellious heart that says, – “I don’t want to stop doing whatever I want, because I essentially want to be my own god.” … “And I don’t want any other god to judge me to sentence me, give me a set of rules to live by if they are not my own – I want to live according to my right and wrong, I will create my own truth …. I want to do what I please and I don’t want to have to pay any price for what I choose!” … That’s the issue ….

Paul says, “wake up, come to your senses” --- You would exchange Jesus FOR yourself? --- You would exchange heaven FOR hell? --- You would exchange freedom in Christ FOR slavery to sin? You would exchange holiness FOR disobedience? You would exchange life FOR death? Paul says, “are you that foolish?” …

Are you foolish enough to believe that just because you question the truth or object to the truth -- That truth no longer exists? ….. That if you play with fire you won’t get burned! .... Paul says if this is what you think … Then come to your senses … come to repentance, come to Jesus!

The issue is not that your smart and need to be convinced … the issue is that we’re evil and want to be God … It is not the unconvinced mind … but the hardened heart that resists the resurrection of Jesus and the eternal life that he gives through himself alone …

But here is the good news ….. Jesus Christ is alive … You can ask Jesus to forgive you today and he will … why? Because he’s alive …. Those of us who know him as Lord we can pray to him and he hears because he’s alive … We can go through hardship and difficult times knowing he is there to help us because he is alive … When thing are great and life is good we have some one to thank and praise because Christ is alive …

You know how else I know that Christ is alive? ….... Because Jesus has changed me!! …. He has transformed me from the inside out … making me new each day by the renewing of my mind on his word --- and as I’ve applied his word -- he’s cleaned up my life …..

… The only reason I’m not totally running after all this world has to offer -- doing my best to escape life and its pressures is because Jesus is alive and given me the best life possible ….. He has changed me! … Jesus has given me a great wife – an incredible little boy – he’s made me a far better husband than I ever could have been on my own … and he’s teaching me how to be a good father, daily – Because God is the greatest Father! ….. He’s giving me a forgiving spirit so that I don’t hang on to the hurt and become a bitter person … Not only that I’ve seen Jesus change many of you … Jesus kindness continually leads me to repentance …

I’ve seen Jesus provide for my needs and the needs of others … I’ve seen Jesus grow this church into the family of God that is today … HOW DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN? -- BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!!!

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