I really love one of the lessons learned from the account in John of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus! Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, but He didn't go to see him right away. When He explained to His disciples that Lazarus was, in fact, dead, He added THIS from verse 15:
15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there; it will help you to believe (to trust and rely on Me). However, let us go to him.
The disciples THOUGHT that Lazarus was simply sleeping. When they heard Jesus specifically say that he was dead, they had NO expectation of what was about to happen before their very eyes! This is what Jesus said TO LAZARUS and what happened next! Verses 43-44:
43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. 44 And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.
What point should we take away from this? We MUST remember what God's Word has to say about physical death! Look at John 10:10:
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMP
He CAME to bring us HIS life! Death is NEVER God's will for us! How will we ever get to Heaven then, you may ask? We are designed by God to live a full and fruitful life here on earth, fulfilling the calling that we have from Him. When we have finished our course, then we are to just move on over into the spiritual dimension and leave these bodies! We do NOT have to be sick, weak or infirm in order to leave this life! We do not have to DIE, rather re-locate! I have made walking in Divine health, healing, wholeness, wellness and fitness a primary goal! When I'm ready to leave, I will make that decision, just as Paul did, and I will "move on over to the other side"! AMEN! Make the decision to walk in the supernatural protection, provision and safety that have already been given to us in this powerful New Covenant that we have! LIVE, He desires it to be so! Here is Hillsong with "Rise":
Shalom in Him!
