Last week we received news that three more anticipated events were being cancelled. It is the season of death. Death of people, yes, but also death of dreams, of plans, even of hope.
The Sentence of Death
The apostle Paul knew this dark feeling well. He writes in his letter to the church in Corinth:
“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
Perhaps you are feeling the “sentence of death” on your life these days. Perhaps like me you see no end in sight and are fighting the urge to despair.
This has not gone unnoticed to our old Adversary the Devil. He “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). And he is taking advantage of the circumstances of the day to pile on with discouragement and doubt. Are we not all experiencing this?
The God who raises the dead
But God has made other plans! Even under the “sentence of death” he has already made a way forward. Paul continues in the very next verse
“But this happened so that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.”
2 Corinthians 1:9
Oh how we forget so quickly! Jesus also suffered the sentence of death… and then was raised by the mighty power of the Father. We may see death all around us, but that same Father is asking us to trust him that he still raises the dead! He is the God of the resurrection! He makes dry bones rattle! If you are a believer then you also have been raised with Christ. Physically we will deal with death until Christ returns, but spiritually, where it matters, we have been given life and hope and a bright future.
Recently I was introduced to a poem by Wendell Berry that ended with this simple, but profound challenge. It says simply:
“Practice resurrection.”
It is his challenge for us to choose each day to live the resurrected life. That is, to be caught up in the resurrected life of Jesus. I have never experienced a time when this is more needed.
And if I could add just one more encouragement, it would be this: We do not practice resurrection on our own strength. We simply participate and join in what Christ has already done for us.
I am reminded of this song:
By Your spirit I will rise
From the ashes of defeat
The resurrected King, is resurrecting me
In Your name I come alive
To declare Your victory
The resurrected King, is resurrecting me
Elevation Worship: Resurrecting
What would it look like for us to “practice resurrection” in these days where the death of both people and dreams seems to be the norm?
What would it look like if we as believers had our heads held high in hope and expectation of new birth and new life, knowing that we are raised together with Christ in victory over death?
This is the Gospel that we need to preach to ourselves each day.
Note: Inspiration for the opening part of this post came from a great podcast by John Eldredge.
