Monday, November 11, 2013

GRACE, THE TOMB RAIDER

John 11:34-36 (NLT) 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”

Truly, Lazarus epitomizes the depraved state of  the fallen race. Our depraved state, compelled a loving God to leave Heaven to come to our Bethany (World) of hopelessness, pain, and predicament, to rescue us and bring us to the status of divinity – a new life derived from a relationship with Him.
Scripture records that when Lazarus was seriously ill his sisters sent word to Jesus saying; “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Jesus, the friend of Lazarus did not respond ASAP but waited for two more days, and within this period, death laid its icy hands on Lazarus. Jesus love for Martha, Mary and their brother was extravagant, yet He didn’t come when they expected Him but rather came to Bethany when in man’s timing; it was too late. Its, not too late for none in this world, as the blood of Jesus still speaks of His redemptive purpose, towards human race, sitting in gloomy darkness.
God always set His plan in motion; a plan higher and loftier than we can imagine with our peanut minds. It may seem like heaven is on vacation sometimes, when we so badly need God. Friend, you can rest assured in the loveliness of God; He will always show up when we least expect., even at the dead-end of the tomb.
Where have you put Him? This is a probe into the core of the state and condition of the man, whom God created in the very image and likeness of God. When Jesus asked Martha and Mary as to the whereabouts of Lazarus, the guy He loved so much. There was urgency in Jesus steps to reach out to falling man, (so to speak) and snatch him from the power of death; which was a picture of our sinful state. As He drew near, His goal was to show to man, heavens agenda to bring man (Sinner) back to the state of newness of life, as God intended from the beginning of creation.

                       ” To have dominion but not dominated by death, and its derivatives”

He was moved with compassion, and was also indignant in His spirit on how low man has fallen from the status of God’s identity, to being caged in the prison of death. He was standing on ground zero, witnessing the devastating work of Lucifer against humanity.
Where are you my friend? Alive, dead or contained in a dark dungeon, without any sense of hope, purpose and direction! There are answers, in Christ Jesus. The God who came to rescue the dead and the depraved is still at work, loving and bringing life to dead situations. Jesus came to our dead-end to show the character of God; a being who can start all over again with you. He pull us from our wits ends and place us again at the starting line, with fresh legs and a new heart to run the race of life with a new identity and meaning. hallelujah!
Jesus Wept; He found Himself face to face with the works of Satan’s kingdom; an activity of the changed state of the family of the human race, which Lazarus scenario epitomize. Death, was not part of the plan; man sold His identity through the first Adam. He couldn’t control His anger towards the Devil and His deepest emotion of love towards humanity. No wonder, all the people who have come to console Martha and Mary, sensed His deep affection for the Lazarus family. They saw Love (Jesus) and felt Love (God) has come to the place where there was no sense of love, but fear and rejection. They exclaimed in unison “See how He loved him” Grace goes to where we least expect…the tomb to shine all of His goodness upon the undeserved. Jesus did not love Lazarus or her sisters because they were “sponsors” of His ministry, He love them because He is love. We did not merit His love because of our works.

“The world is witnessing the incredible love of Jesus in an unusual way. What we are seeing in this end time about the loveliness of God, is prophetic. Many are being delivered from shame, guilt, condemnation, sin, sickness into total life of prosperity, in its purest beauty”

This is love at work, and it’s not your love for Him, but His love for you. When you grasped His love; your appetite to love Him is awesome, and it affects all that you do in life. God is not just a diffuser of love; He is by nature, love. This means wherever God is; love becomes the fluid that lubricates impossible circumstances, to awaken boldness, faith, restoration etc. which are all a residue of His life imparted to us, so we can face tomorrow with peace and certainty.
1 John 4:16-18 (NLT) 16 We know how much God loves us 17 And as we live in God, our love grows perfect.”   17 And as we live in God, our love grows perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Now, focus on the love of God towards you as you consciously meditate on Jesus presence in your dead situation, to give you life and hope. Don’t wait for somebody to point you to how impossible your situation is, but rather speak, confess and declare to yourself; “I am loved and dearly accepted by Jesus today for resurrection, healing, salvation; I boldly declare that, I am wired to function in the capacity of the quality life, on this side of eternity”
This love is irrevocable, magnificent, irresistible good; There is nothing you can do to make God love you less or love you more. This understanding will cause you to sit back and own it when even you are in the grave of sin, you can be forgiven, healed and restored to live freely again, in the land of the living. Remember, this old Sunday school song;
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
For the Bible tells me so

“My friend see how He loves you and watch this same love, expel all your fears and doubts, today.  Our God is love”

- McDaniels Gyamfi