Tag: resurrection

Death, Taxes, and Setbacks

By Ife J. Ibitayo

Benjamin Franklin famously claimed there are only two certainties in life—death and taxes. But I’d like to posit one more: setbacks. And put simply, setbacks suck. They suck the joy out of our day, the wind out of our sails, and the life out of our bodies. When our company lays us off or our girlfriend suggests we “take a break” or our long-awaited callback never comes, we can be driven to despair. With tears streaming down our faces, we may ask, “God, where are you?”

Death

My most recent setback made me think of the story of Lazarus. This man was one of Jesus’ closest friends when He walked here on this earth. But when his sisters, Mary and Martha, told Him “the one whom He loved was sick” (John 11:3), He waited, He lingered, and He delayed. By the time He arrived on the scene, the man was already dead.

Martha confronted Jesus and cried, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” In response, Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.” And Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:21-24). In other words, “Eventually, You will make this right.”

God tells us that He is in control. He was at the beginning, and He knows the ending. And Romans 8:28 says that “all things work together for the good of those who love Him.” But often it can be all too tempting to hedge this promise with the word “eventually”.

Taxes

It’s kind of like when the IRS takes too much money out of our paycheck so they make it up to us in our tax return the following year. Similarly, some of us might believe God has written us an eternal IOU–to be paid after we die. Maybe after this life, in the sum balance of things, we will appreciate this point of pain. But at this moment, it feels like God has forgotten that we’re still among the living.

But Jesus challenged Martha to enter into an even deeper level of faith by telling her “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Then He asked her to roll away the stone where Lazarus’s body was laid. In other words, He was asking her to have faith not just for the ending somewhere out there but also for the middle right here and now.

Life Beyond Setbacks

God is a God of detail. The Old Testament is full of chapter upon chapter detailing the minutia of God’s dwelling places here on earth, the garments of His earthly priests, and the hundreds of ceremonial laws God had in place for the Jewish people. And this detail extends to us. When Jesus said that “even the very hairs of our heads are all numbered,” (Matthew 10:30), He was not pointing out an OCD fixation of the godhead. He was demonstrating that God cares about the details even we tend to overlook.

The same applies to God’s plans for our lives. God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). God knew about that bombed interview, accounted for that failed exam, and prepared for that missed flight long before we even existed. Our moments of misfortune cannot negate the unfailing promises God has in store for us, or else He’d cease to be God.

Remind, Rely, and Rejoice

So, what do we do in the midst of setbacks? We remind, rely, and rejoice.

First, we remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in the past because we will forget. Our brains have a well-known tendency to deeply imprint negative experiences and neglect positive ones called negativity bias. Therefore, we must actively work to call to mind those moments in the past when God came through for us.

Secondly, we must rely on God to guide us past our setbacks. One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture comes from the book of 1 Kings. In the middle of a war between the Israelites and a fierce rival of theirs at that time called the Arameans, God said, “Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand” (1 Kings 20:28). Sometimes we fall into this same fallacy. We claim God’s provision in our triumphs but we neglect His grace in our setbacks. God is with us both on the hills and in the valleys.

And lastly, but possibly most important of all, we must rejoice during our difficulties. The gospel singer Marvin Sapp has a song called “Praise Him in Advance” that begins with these words:

I’ve had my share of ups and downs,

Times when there was no one around,

God came and spoke these words to me,

Praise will confuse the enemy.

It confuses the enemy because most of us tend to base our happiness on our present circumstances. If times are good, we praise God, but when they’re bad, we doubt Him. But thanksgiving has the power to turn our focus from our problems and our pain to God’s power and God’s plan.

Conclusion

Setbacks may be inevitable but so is the Lord’s provision. The Word says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23-24). Our heavenly Father gives us permission to admit we may not be quite perfect yet. We can confidently trip our way through life because He’s holding us up. He’s been holding our hand from the day we were born, and He will continue to do so until the day we die.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
(Deuteronomy 31:8)

Watch God (Life After Death Pt. 3)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

For Part 1, “Remembered Sin or Resurrected Faith”, click here. For Part 2, “Unexpected Gift, Unexpected Grief”, click here.

Jesus had many disciples, but He had very few friends. A man named Lazarus and his two sisters–Mary and Martha–were among these precious few. When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent this message to the famed miracle worker, “‘Lord, Your dear friend is very sick’” (John 11:3). Jesus should have taken off as soon as He heard. But He waited instead. And by the time He arrived in Lazarus’ hometown, His dear friend was already dead (John 11:17).

Watch, God?

If you’re anything like me, you may have noticed that this is a fairly common pattern for God. We saw the writing on the wall and begged Him to step in a long time ago: To rescue our flagging finances, our failing marriage, or our wayward children. But He didn’t show.

The prophet Elijah once mocked some false prophets who were crying out to Baal by saying, “‘You’ll have to shout louder, for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming or relieving himself or away on a trip or asleep’” (1 Kings 18:27). But sometimes I feel like that’s my God. And that’s how Mary and Martha felt when Jesus finally arrived. They cried to Jesus, “‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died’” (John 11:21, 32).

Watch God

We’re distraught when God shows up later than we want Him to because we think He’s too late to do anything at all. When we’ve declared bankruptcy, when our spouse files for divorce, when our son or daughter overdoses, we throw in the towel. We recognize that He’s the great physician who can heal broken bones, but we forget that He’s almighty God who resurrects corpses.

Even before Lazarus was laid in the tomb, Jesus said, “‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it’” (John 11:4). God’s glory is not a trivial matter. Only people who worship a glorious God have glorious faith.

They pour out their life savings to wash Jesus’ feet (John 13:1-8). Tortured, imprisoned, and sawn in two, they refuse to deny the faith (Hebrews 11:35-37). They accept sleepless night and starving days just to preach the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:27). They shout with Daniel’s three friends, “Our God is able to save us from the fiery furnace, but even if He does not, we will not submit” (Daniel 3:17-18). Such faith is not built on a small God working small miracles but a great God working great wonders.

Conclusion

When Jesus came to Lazarus’ tomb, He said, “‘Take away the stone.’” But she replied, “‘Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible’” (John 11:39). Martha had already swung the white flag of defeat. There was no point in unearthing the putrid, rotting corpse. But Jesus replied, “‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’” (John 11:40). The question Jesus asked Martha, He asks you today: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Do you have enough faith to roll away the stone and watch God?

“The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

(2 Chronicles 16:9a NKJV)

Unexpected Gift, Unexpected Grief (Life After Death Pt. 2)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

Elisha was the servant of the prophet Elijah, who was spoken of in Life After Death Pt. 1. The LORD gave him a double portion of Elijah’s powerful spirit (2 Kings 2:9-12). He exemplified this magnified ministry by multiplying bread (2 Kings 4:42-44), cleansing lepers (2 Kings 5:1-14), and even raising the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37).

Unexpected Gift

As all resurrections do, this one began with a birth. There was a wealthy woman living in the land of Shunem who noticed that Elisha passed through their village regularly. She invited the man of God into her home. Then she created a small upper room for him to stay in whenever he passed through. Blessed by her hospitality, Elisha asked what he could do for her. Recognizing that she and her husband were elderly yet childless, he promised that in a year’s time she’d have a son (2 Kings 4:8-16).

“‘O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that’” (2 Kings 4:16), the woman said. But sure enough, a year later she held a son in her arms.

Unexpected Grief

The infant grew from a babe cradled in his mother’s arms to a boy that could walk all by himself. But one day he ran to his father and cried, “Oh, my head, my head!” A servant carried him to his mother, and he died in her arms (2 Kings 4:18-20). The unexpected gift was replaced with unexpected grief.

The Shunammite woman traveled to the man of God. She collapsed at his feet and cried, “‘Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, “Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up”’” (2 Kings 4:28)?

Like the Shunammite woman, we too have received unexpected gifts from God: a new job to work, a wife to hold, kids to raise. We might not have even asked for these things, yet God answered the desire of our hearts. He gave us a gift we cherished, then He took it away.

Unexpected Restoration

But the Shunammite woman had come to Elisha for a reason. He traveled with her back to her home. When he entered his room, he found the dead boy’s corpse lying on his bed. He cried out passionately to God, and God reached down to that precious boy and restored him back to life. Because of the Shunammite woman’s faith, a boy’s life was unexpectedly restored, a family was unexpectedly reunited, and a testimony was unexpectedly redeemed.

Conclusion

The Bible says that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). God never changes. The same God who gave you a good gift yesterday is the same God who took it away today. God always has a good reason for death—of a dream, a career, or even a loved one. We may never figure out what it is here in this life. But we can rest assured that the same power that raised this woman’s son from grave is still at work today.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

(Lamentations 3:22)

Remembered Sin or Resurrected Faith (Life After Death Pt. 1)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

Death is the last villain–the final boss–in the story of our lives. Death is guaranteed for all of us, but second life is not. Resurrection is as rare as unicorns, so whenever God rescues someone from the dead, He is clearly trying to send us a message.

Remembered Sin

During the middle of a famine, Elijah—the greatest prophet of the Old Testament—was sent to live with a widow. Her son died soon after he arrived. She railed against Elijah, “‘O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son’” (1 Kings 17:18 NLT)?

God has baked into our bones the knowledge of our own sinfulness. And when tragedy strikes, we often believe that we’re receiving our just deserts. Maybe your parents divorced and you think that if you had only been a better daughter, they might have stayed together. Maybe you have a friend who committed suicide and you wonder if you would have been able to save them if only you had cared enough to call. Maybe you’re sifting through the ruins of your own troubled life and you can’t stop seeing all the little bombs you set—the TNT of immaturity and the C-4 of pride.

This widow knew the darkness of her own heart and believed her day of reckoning had come.

Resurrected Faith

But God had a better word for her. Elijah whisked off the corpse and cried out to the LORD. The prayer of God’s righteous saints has great power while its working (James 5:16): to heal, to restore, and yes, even to raise the dead. Elijah cried out to God, and God reached down to him and restored the life of the boy he was praying over (1 Kings 17:19-22).

When Elijah returned the revived son to his mother, he said, ‘Look, your son is alive!’ Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth’” (1 Kings 17:24). The point of the death of the widow’s son was not to emphasize her sinfulness but to strengthen her faith.

Forgotten Miracle

Yet the widow’s son had been on the verge of death once before. A few Bible verses earlier, this same widow had been preparing the last supper for her family. Using the last of the flour in her house, they were going to eat and die (1 Kings 17:12).
But then Elijah showed up on her doorstep and gave her a word from God: “‘“There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crows grow again”’” (1 Kings 17:14 NLT)!

They were living off this very miracle when the widow’s son fell ill. God’s word had already proven true while the widow’s son was still alive, yet it took his death for her to be fully convinced.

Conclusion

We will be tempted to forget God’s faithfulness from yesterday if tragedy strikes close to home tomorrow. But don’t let the miraculous grow mundane in your life. Don’t let fear override faith. Remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and every word He speaks is true.

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!”

(Psalm 103:1-5 NLT)

A Miracle Too Late (Jesus and His People Pt. 2)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

For Part 1 on “A Different Jesus”, click here.

The world is thrashing in the grip of a mighty pandemic, crumbling under the weight of a reeling economy, and stretching to its snapping point because of geopolitical tensions. The evidence of God has vanished for many, and the question has surfaced, “If He even showed up now, would it be too late?”

A family thousands of years ago asked the same question. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were some of Jesus’ closest friends. But when Lazarus fell deathly ill, Jesus didn’t arrive until His good friend was thoroughly dead.

The Accusation

When Jesus finally waltzed into town, several days too late, both Mary and Martha told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21,32 NIV). They implied that if He had only set out a little earlier, tried a little harder, maybe cared a little more, their brother would have still been alive.

These kinds of accusations are not unique to this family. The Bible is filled with accounts of suffering men and women wondering where God was. Job, the most righteous man in the Eastern Hemisphere while he was alive, cried out to God, “‘Why do You hide your face and consider me your enemy’” (Job 13:24 NIV)? The prophet Jeremiah, in the middle of a life-leeching drought, questioned God, “Are you also confused? Is our champion helpless to save us” (Jeremiah 14:9 NLT)?  King David, from a pit of great despair screamed, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me” (Psalm 22:1 NIV)?

The Answer

Jesus responded to this veiled allegation, “‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this'” (John 11:26 NIV)? In essence, Jesus told Martha that He was still the answer—life—to her problem—death.

The Christian walk, just like most great undertakings, starts off easy but gets considerably harder over time. When we are first raised to new life by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, many of us will “taste and see that the Lord is good”. Mini-miracles will color our weeks and neon bursts of joy will liven our hearts.

But then the weight of our demanding boss will return, our wayward children will continue rebelling, or an emergency will rock us to our core. Many who’ve attended Sunday School know that Jesus is always The Answer even before the question is asked, but after tragedies like these strike, we must answer whether we truly believe this.

The Command

Moved by compassion at the sight of the sisters’ tears, Jesus asked them where they’d lain Lazarus’ corpse. Once He arrived there, He commanded them to move aside the stone sealing the entrance to Lazarus’ tomb. Martha said, “But Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days” (John 11:39 CSB). Why would Martha even mention this? She believed there was a high likelihood that when they rolled the stone away, Lazarus would still be dead.

Miracles are rarely free. They require risk and cost: sending out that application, taking out that loan, putting one’s reputation and credibility on the line, or inhaling the sickening aroma of defeat if God doesn’t come through. This was the tension that Martha was struggling with. But Jesus told her, “‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God’” (John 11:40 ESV)? If we never embrace the risk, we will never see the reward. Only those who take that terrifying leap will see God do only what God can do.

Conclusion

Mary and Martha’s friends took a step of faith and rolled away the stone. When they did, Jesus cried out, “‘Lazarus, come out.’” (John 11:43). Then the mummified man emerged from the tomb and returned to the land of the living!

 Jesus had been too late to heal the sick Lazarus, but He hadn’t been too late to raise the dead one. Similarly, just because our day by day situation seems to be going from bad to worse doesn’t mean it’s become too challenging for God. It just means the miracle will be all the more glorious.

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.”

(Isaiah 59:1 NIV)