Don't Move that Stone...He Stinks

We all face difficult crossroads in our life. Moments when you have to make a decision on which way to go. Those times when you have to turn left or turn right. Sometimes it seems as though either direction could be good. Other times it seems like neither direction could be correct…yet you have to go one way or the other.

Jesus faced many such moments in his life. The moment when so many disciples decided to dessert him, (John 6:60-67) he had to make the decision that he would keep teaching the truth even though it meant the loss of so many. Another time was when Lazarus was sick. Jesus could have gone immediately to heal him…but instead he stayed two days longer where he was. He did not give in to the pressure to leave as so many wanted, rather he remained resolute to the fact that this sickness would not end in death.

Some could argue that Jesus was wrong…Lazarus did die. Jesus even said so several verses later. Jesus told them flat out “Lazarus is dead.” Yet when Jesus said that “this sickness will not end in death,” he was telling the truth. Because Jesus knew that Lazarus’ death was not the end. He knew that there was still life to be had for Lazarus…even though everything in the natural was saying otherwise. He looked dead, he was wrapped and in the tomb, scripture even records that he smelt dead…as most would that had been laying in the tomb for four days. Yet even with the overwhelming FACTS of this world stacked against him…Jesus proceeded as though Lazarus truly was just asleep…not really dead.

Let me ask you…what do you have in your own life that appears to be dead? And maybe it doesn’t just appear to be dead…but the overwhelming evidence would say that it is dead. Maybe it even smells dead. Is it a dream? Is it a goal that you have had for so long but you just don’t see the progress? Is it something that you had promised yourself long ago, but it just isn’t happening? Maybe you lack the discipline, maybe you lack the ambition, maybe you just need to make the decision that now is the time and this is the place and begin to march forward.

Whatever it is…do some research, find the scriptural promises of what God has for you and what he promises to those who believe and put their faith in him…not in themselves. And armed with those tools begin to move ahead, begin to march forward, and lay hold of the land and the life that God desires for YOU.

John 11:38-43 – “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"


Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved