I am piggy backing on yesterday’s message about the cactus and it does not die, but in some climates, it looks dead but is only sleeping. Jesus told Lazarus' sisters that Lazarus was sleeping and that He would go and wake him up (John 11:11).
Fast forward-
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went, and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:20-27).
Sounds like a contradiction? Not at all! If you die physically, you will live (That’s victory beyond the grave). Those who believe in Jesus, though their bodies go to the grave or back to ashes, the body is separated from the soul and the Spirit, therefore the body is what the real us is housed in. We need a physical body to live in while on the earth.
This is the verse on which I am concentrating. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
I am adding a couple of words which mean the same thing. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die [physically], he shall live. Yet whoever lives and believes in Jesus shall never die- this means at the onset of salvation; they have eternal life.
Remember there are two places that people will go- the believers live eternally with Jesus (John 3:16); those who believe have eternal life, even if there is a cessation of life. The unbelievers suffer eternal death (damnation)-
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15)
In other words, those who believe have eternal life, even if there is a cessation of life.
This may be over some peoples' heads, but it's necessary to understand and be able to share with others.
Tomorrow I plan to continue with this series about eternal life and hopefully it will change some peoples’ perspective (outlook or view).
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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