Luke 24:5

Why Do You Look For

The Living Among The Dead?

It was a logical question for two angels to ask, knowing that Jesus was alive, as they did.  Angels have a way of coming right to the point.  They often say, "Do not be afraid ... ," as the angel said to Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Humans would likely be fearful if suddenly a glowing white figure appeared before us out of nowhere; however, in this case as in many times when they appear, they had a message, which was essentially, "Nobody's dead in this tomb."  

"And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout,

behold, two men stood by them in shining garments."

(Luke 24:4)

Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, Almighty God in the flesh, was alive!  We would be a little perplexed too, if we visited a grave site, the casket was open and empty, and white-robed angels quickly appeared asking why we are looking for the "living among the dead."  What a story!  Only the God of the universe could plan and carry out such a miracle!  The sacrifices of animals and blood shed in the old testament only covered sins for a time, but the Lord Jesus Christ came to shed His blood for all mankind forever, for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.  (Hebrews 9:22)  He shed His blood once and for all and "It Is Finished."  If the God of creation can give Himself for us, die and rise again; He can take care of us in every situation!  He sends forth His angels as ministering spirits to help us. 

                                                          

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to

minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

(Hebrews 1:14)

Jesus Christ our Lord thought of everything!  He was born to die; He died to live; He lives to prepare a place for us that where He is, we may be also.  He created us to have peace, joy, love, and life everlasting.  We will have our trials, troubles, and woes, because the rain falls on the just and the unjust.  We live in a fallen world and many of the world's ongoing and terrible problems are the result of sin; we are "in" the world but not "of" the world, if we are filled with His Spirit, baptized in His name and walking in His precepts.  The God who spoke all into existence can take care of you and me!

          

       "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the

       ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne

of honor.  For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; upon

          them he has set the world."

         (I Samuel 2:8)

We serve a God who always has a plan!  From the beginning of time, He was Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.  He is never without a solution, never without an escape hatch, never scratching His head in dismay, never without a victory, never has a Power outage, never without resources, and He will never ever "leave" you and me.  So, when the teardrops plop like sounds of thunder on our pillows in the darkness of night, we have to remember that everything around us is decaying and dying, such is the ordinance of life and death.  But, our hope lies beyond the blue with Jesus Christ, our Lord, in a paradise designed and waiting for us, so we must ask ourselves a very pertinent and timely question, "Why are we looking for the living among the dead?" 

             

                                                                                                                                                                                   By Sheryl Fowler

                                        (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
                                   PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)