Come Forth!

The story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11 is one that has developed new meaning in the life of my family. Before we look at this story, I want to make a personal statement. One of the things that I fear about posting what God has done in the life of my family is that someone will read our blog and conclude that we think that we have all the answers and that we believe ourselves to be more spiritual than the next person. I want to personally state that nothing could be further from the truth. I personally believe that God does have a will for his people and that His will can be discovered through the reading of the Word of God and through prayer. However, I know that I am not right about everything and just because someone may have a differing opinion does not mean that they are being disobedient to the Lord. However, I try my best to match my values and lifestyle to the Word of God and I hope that you will do the same. As you read the things that I will write, and you find yourself in disagreement with these ideas, please compare them to scripture. If I am taken scripture out of context then ignore what I am saying. If, however, I am being consistent with my interpretation of scripture, I ask that you give consideration to how this applies to your life. With that being said, let us look at how the story of Lazarus has taken on new meaning in my life.

As you read the story of Lazarus in John 11, please pay careful attention to verse 44. When Jesus calls Lazarus from the tomb, He instructs those nearby to unbind him and let him go. Lazarus was bound with grave clothes and Jesus had just given him life. The transformation of Lazarus from death to life needed to be accompanied with a change in his appearance. If Lazarus had come to life and still continued living in the grave clothes he would have been a sight to see. He also would have been the source of discussion and ridicule. It would be utterly ridiculous for a person who has been given life to wander around giving the appearance of death. Jesus expected Lazarus to give the appearance of the new life that he had been given. Jesus expects the same thing from His children today.

There are many spiritual parallels between the story of Lazarus and my life. First, Lazarus was dead until Jesus called him out of the grave. The Bible clearly teaches that I was also in a dead state. "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air; the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience..." (Ephesians 2:1-2, ESV). Secondly, Jesus delivered Lazarus from the power of death. In a spiritual sense, it was the call of Jesus on my life that has delivered me from the power of sin and death. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2, ESV). A third parallel is that Jesus commanded Lazarus to be delivered from the grave clothes had kept him bound. The Word of God clearly teaches that those who have been given spiritual life should also lay aside the trappings that had kept them bound. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2, ESV).

Unfortunately, for the longest time this is where the similarities ended in my life. Unlike Lazarus, I was the ridiculous looking man walking around claiming new life in Jesus Christ, yet I was continuing to live as if I was bound by death. I was allowing my own reasoning, my own feelings, and the world to dictate what I should do in every area life including worship, marriage, parenting and decision making. As a child of God, I am supposed to allow the Word of God to transform my life. I have started to learn this lesson in my life but I still have a long way to go. God has been stripping away some of the grave clothes that have kept me bound for years. God has changed much within the confines of my family. He has changed the way we look at things from entertainment to the education of our children and many others. God is continually changing the way we view things.

In future posts I will go into deeper detail regarding what I believe the Bible teaches concerning specific issues. For now, I want to encourage and challenge you to allow the Bible to be your source of direction. I encourage you to read the Word of God and allow it to transform your life. As you read the Bible and encounter teachings that go against the way you live your life, I challenge you to change and let the Word guide you and not your own wisdom. This will be one of the most difficult things you have done at first, and it may cause difficulties in some of your relationships, but I promise you that you will be provided peace from the Lord and an increasing desire to serve and please your Lord and Savior. In short, you will be blessed by obedience.