LightGrams
June 15, 2023
Volume 27, Number 16
Bella Montoya, age 76, was unconscious when taken to a hospital in Babahoyo, Ecuador last Friday. It appeared she had suffered a stroke, and there were no signs of life. A doctor came out to tell the family that attempts to resuscitate her had not been successful and handed them a death certificate. Her body was taken to a funeral home nearby.
After about five hours, family members heard sounds coming from the casket. Upon opening it they found Bella, a retired nurse, breathing heavily. Medical personnel rushed her to the hospital, and as of Monday she was still in critical condition – but alive. An investigation has been launched to determine how doctors had come to the conclusion that she had died.
It was Mark Twain who supposedly made the famous statement, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Those are not his exact words, but the point is clear: Don’t count me out until I truly am dead and gone.
The reports of my death were not an exaggeration, according to the apostle Paul: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). In another letter he affirmed the lethal nature of sin: “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me” (Romans 7:11). In the previous chapter he stated it most clearly: “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23).
Here, then, is the crucial question: Can one who has died live again? Job raised that question many centuries ago: “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). With Jesus we have the answer to the ancient question – Yes! Jesus has conquered death. He proved that point at the grave of His friend when He commanded, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43).
But the greater truth is not regarding physical death, but the spiritual consequences of sin. Though sin may have battered my life and my soul to the point of spiritual death, don’t count me out if Jesus is by my side. With the power of Christ, I can rise up from seeming death and live a power-filled life that shows others the power of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:17 states this proposition well: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Before Christ I might have been the worst of sinners. With His help I am raised from that dead past to a new life (Romans 6:3,4).
The man Mark described in Mark 5:1-20 was “dead”, possessed by a legion of demons that made him an outcast of society. His life was surrounded by death, literally, as he lived among the tombs. When Jesus appeared, the demons were cast out of his life and the man became a proclaimer of the good news of Jesus by the close of the story (Mark 5:20). The reports of the man’s death were premature.
Do you consider yourself beyond help? You’ve never met Jesus, have you? Get in touch and let’s talk about the possibilities.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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