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Welcome to the Future
by Shirley Carr You might not be able to say that the situation didn't sting-it did and probably still does- but I am sure that it has made an enduring route of determination. At times you may have felt like the illegitimate child conceived by your past and present. Between these two you may have felt as if apart of you died. Yet, somewhere on the path-in a valley, perhaps, between the mountains that build upon expired promises, properly buried beneath many rejections, lying in the grave of grief, faith was resurrected. Faith called you out of your dead situation and so you not only began to move out but you began to move forward and, no doubt about it your life, will never be the same! Consider the story of Lazarus in John 11:1-12:10. There are three events that you must consider when you mention Lazarus in the Bible; these events are a Resurrection, a Renaissance, and a Revolution! A resurrection is the act of bringing someone or something back to life or to use. What situations have left you feeling like a hallow drum that had deteriorated long before the beat echoed throughout the environment? What circumstances have you allowed to entangle you and entrapped you even to the point of wrapping around your hands and feet and even to the point of covering your face. Your hand is the part of the body that is able to hold. Your feet are the part of your body that is able to stand. Your face is the part of your body that gives you identity. What situations have caused holding on to become a challenge? What situations have caused your ability to stand to be thrown off balance? What situations have caused who you are and your identity to be masked? In John 11, Jesus notices a man who has encountered these situations. The man is laying limp in a tomb. And Jesus shouted, "Lazarus comes out" and a dead man a once dead man walked out from the tomb; has hands, feet, and face still bound up with the linen burial cloths. Lazarus still wrapped up was able to hear the voice of Jesus call Him. And notice what happens next. Lazarus did not say a word! Lazarus performed an ACT! Lazarus came out and Jesus then gave another command to those who were at the tomb. Jesus said, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Grave clothes represent addictions and worldly things that we hold on to. Grave clothes represent things in your past that you keep holding on too. Grave clothes represent depression. The grave cloths came off and then they let him go. Jesus brought Lazarus back to life and the story doesn't stop here. There is a renaissance and a revolution that happened. A renaissance means a rebirth! This renaissance is the turning from man to God. In John 12, Jesus arrived at Bethany where Lazarus lived and a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Lazarus was reclining at the table with Jesus! It was through rebirth that Lazarus was able to be at the table with Jesus. Jesus was important to Lazarus. Lazarus did not miss the opportunity to be at the table with Jesus! Jesus IS a big deal! People begin to put their faith in Jesus! A revolution breaks out! Revolution is a drastic and far-reaching ways of thinking and behaving. The bible says in John 12: 9-11, a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. You may feel like what you are going through has taken the very life out of you. You may feel so wrapped up in the same ole situation where now you are just a carcass of carelessness. Nevertheless, Jesus is moved with compassion for you and He is calling your name and just like Lazarus you must come out! As you come out watch your past come off of you. The thing of your past that has had you wrapped up has to let you go NOW! You on the eve of a Renaissance that will ignite the greatest Revolution ever! This revolution will turn people from man to Jesus. It begins today. Welcome to the Future! EVEidenz, copyright Pen You In Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |