Revival is in the earth as we speak; the Kingdom of God has come! Yet, this is an hour of discouraged defeated Christians. Some are questioning: Where is God? Or What is He doing?
He is still “The Ancient of Days!” He still holds time in His hands and don’t forget there’s a reason why He is the Sovereign Lord.
John 11:1-6 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore, the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he who You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
Try to make some natural sense of verses 5-6! Jesus loved this family so much that He let Lazarus die!!
Well, thanks a heap!
God’s plan for us is that we live by faith trusting His Word, and not by what we can touch, see, hear, taste, or smell!
Notice how low the morale of the disciples had fallen in vs 16 “Let us go die with him.”
When you feel discouragement trying to overtake – remember, you’ve had some fine company.
But if you have to have the blues – have it with joy.
For years I wondered why Jesus let Lazarus die… Don’t be spoiled, life is not about you – you’re going to live forever! The real question is what does God want?
Ps 43:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
Ps 118: 17, 24 “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Look around you, if you see anyone with a “God’s too late” look on their face, say to them, “From the looks of things, God isn’t finished with you yet!”
Jesus wasn’t four days late for Lazarus; He was right on time.
John 11:45 “Then many of the Jews believed in Jesus.”
If God had us on His advisory board, there would never be the need for miraculous intervention. No need for Godly involvement; and nothing to show the world what kind of an awesome God we serve.
Do you feel like God has forgotten you? Do you feel like the word you got is no good; it’s just taken too long? What if you are called to lose your life, or a loved one’s life? What is your life anyway?
James said it’s only a vapor, it’s only here for a short while, then it’s gone.
Can you trust God with your life, stuff, dreams??? Have you been having a tough time?
- Abraham spent nearly ¼ of a century trying to make God’s promises come true. Was he sometimes frustrated? He was 75 when he was first told he’d be the father of a Great Nation. At 99 he was starting to get old.
- Moses spent 40 years in a wilderness – tending another man’s sheep – of course that was after being educated to be a king. He was 80 when he saw the burning bush.
- David was anointed King of Israel, then spent the next 14 years being chased by the deranged man he was to replace as king.
- Joseph was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery and then spent time in a prison before the dreams of his youth were a reality.
Were these men of faith?
Heb. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Relax – this world is not your home… You’re looking for a city whose ruler and builder is God.
Heb. 11:16 … Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
You are too late to tell me that God’s too late! I trust totally in God!