The final example is the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jairus' daughter had just died. The widow's son had been dead longer and was being brought out for funeral. Lazarus however, had been dead and buried for four days.
When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. "Where have you put him?" he asked them. John 11: 33-34 (NLT)
Sometimes our sin becomes so deep that it settles into our lives. We can make excuses for it. We can even numb the Holy Spirit within us as we feel the conviction less and less. God is never happy with our sin beloved. It troubles Him deeply. His design for us is life, not death. Jesus would go to the tomb:
Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. John 11: 38-39 (NLT)
The stone was what was blocking the miracle. In our lives the stone might be refusing to confess our sin. It might be unbelief that God can raise that which is dead. It may be our stubborn refusal to make the Lord our life. Whatever it may be, no matter how long the sin has set in, God can still reach it and deliver us from it:
Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" John 11: 43-44 (NLT)
This is what unchecked sin in our lives will do to us as well. It binds us hands and feet. It blinds us with graveclothes and headcloths. We cannot see and have no control. When Jesus delivers us from sin it is not just a matter of coming forth beloved. The clothes of death and sin must be removed.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13: 13-14 (NIV)
It is a constant struggle in our flesh against our sinful nature. The Bible says if we claim to not sin that we deceive ourselves. Even though it is a topic that we tend to stay away from, we need not fear it. We serve a God who can raise the dead, regardless of how long that death has set in. We serve a God who we need to have faith in. A God who shows great compassion towards us. A God who remains deeply troubled when we stray from Him.
So, what are we making our life about today beloved? How can we choose life today? The key verses provide us with the guidelines. First we must love the Lord. That sounds easy enough but loving Him also means not choosing the little sin compromises that we know He does not approve of. Secondly, we must listen to His voice. This means we must hold fast to prayer and reading the Word of God the two primary ways God speaks to us. David said that he would hide God's Word in his heart so that he might not sin against the Lord. The Bible says that His people perish for a lack of knowledge. Lastly, we must hold fast to Him. This means that we must acknowledge that the storms and temptations of life will come against us but regardless of how things make us feel, we must hold fast to whom we believe in. We hold fast to our faith in a God who holds such great compassion towards us and is deeply troubled when we stray. There is a Promised Land and blessings beyond measure but we must first choose life.
Reverend Anthony Wade October 4, 2011
