Job’s question
 A
number of years ago Dr. J. Vernon McGee told the story
of an atheist in Hanover, Germany who decided, even
if he were wrong, that his body would never be resurrected
for any reason. He left instructions that his casket
was to be entombed in tons of concrete, covered with
granite and secured with steel bands. Inscribed on the
tomb were the following words, This tomb is purchased
for eternity. It shall never be opened. Amusing
how God has a sense of humor. You see, a poplar seed
fell behind one of the straps and grew through the years.
When this tomb was found just before WWII it had been
broken open by the tree. God might have been saying,
“You can’t even seal a tomb in this life;
how can you know anything at all about death on your
own?”
Each of us has some idea about death,
the afterlife and resurrection. In casual conversation
we often use the phrase, “Well, I believe…”.
Dr. Spiros Zodiates relates the story of a group of
people who happened to be discussing various issues
at a party. Someone said something about a type of physical
malady and was corrected by a man who was a physician.
He said the malady was complicated and that people should
only listen to physicians when discussing such matters.
Later the matter of the resurrection came up and this
same physician spoke long and authoritatively about
it. The problem was he did not have a clue as to what
he was talking about. When corrected and asked where
he got his ideas he became defensive and said that his
views are what he believed — based on his own
thinking. As if that was supposed to impress someone.
The man from Hanover and the physician
are no different from most people. They believe what
they want to believe about death and resurrection without
regard to the truth. They rest in their self-appointed
expertise and draw conclusions based upon their secular
educations, experiences and, more significantly, their
personal wishes. Eternity itself is not long enough
to fully regret such foolishness.
When a man falls short of, or goes
beyond God’s revelation about death and resurrection
he is performing guesswork and is stepping out into
thin air. Books have been written about so-called near-death-experiences
and it is interesting that most people going through
those things “return” as different people.
Not that they have necessarily seen the truth, however.
They are just different in some ways. Some become more
caring, more generous or more loving toward their families.
Such changes might be good, but their cause might have
absolutely nothing to do with the truth. Humans have
a tendency to associate all things they see as supernatural
with God — a very dangerous position to take!
Job asked, When a man dies, will
he live again?” (Job 14:14). The human mind
has never asked a more pertinent question. To get the
answer to that question one must go far beyond speculation,
science, politics, etc. He must go to the truth; that
is, what God has said about the matter. Anything and
everything else is quite simply false. Why is this so?
Because all of man’s many achievements fall short
of answering the question. As someone once said, man
can get to the door of death where he can knock, but
there is no answer — except from God.
What can a non-Christian say to someone
who has lost a loved one? A President can present the
Medal of Honor to a young widow, but if said president
is not a Christian about the only words he can offer
are, “Thank you for your sacrifice. Be strong.”
A close friend or even a relative can only say, “I
love you.” A physician can only say “I did
the best I could. I am so sorry.” But, all of
that is so empty, so hollow, so impotent. Why? Because
those words, no matter how sincere, come from a human
perspective and cannot even come close to answering
the real question, Will he live again?
Easter is nearly upon us. It does not
have all the commercial appeal as Christmas, but it
is my favorite celebration because it is God’s
answer to Job’s question, not man’s answer.
Forget rabbits, eggs and all the other stuff that goes
with Easter. Such is fun for kids, but is not even remotely
associated with life after death. Sadly, in their efforts
to make a connection between those icons and the resurrection
I have heard some preachers make some very long stretches
in their sermons. People leave churches like that with
their question still unanswered — if a man
dies, will he live again?
Easter answers a resounding “Yes!”
to Job’s inquiry. We will indeed live after death!
For those who base their belief system upon their own
spindly and flawed considerations, they will live again
in a place called hell. They will have bodies, will
feel torment, will have memory and will forever regret
their pride and self-imposed importance (Luke 16:19ff
though referring there to Hades instead of hell). For
those who are Christians (narrowly defined, by the way
— Matthew 7:13-24) we will be forever in the presence
of Jesus and our saved loved ones, will never know pain,
sorrow or death again, and will have bodies like that
of our resurrected Lord (Philippians 3:20,21). That
answers the question!
Jesus said to Martha, Lazarus’
grieving sister, "I am the resurrection and the
life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies
and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never
die.” (John 11:25,26). That is the truth; you
need go no farther. All that can be said about the matter
is there. There is no human-inspired assurance anywhere
and under any name that can even approach the comfort
of those words. Not just because they are inherently
comforting, but because God in human flesh said them;
the same One who was dead and who is now alive, even
this very moment sitting at the right hand of God soon
to come for His church.
The key to whether this is comforting
for you personally is found in the final sentence of
verse 26, “Do you believe this?” Whether
the truth of the Easter resurrection applies to you
depends upon how you answer that question.
Get beyond the shallow musings presented
on satellite TV programs where false extra-biblical
“gospels” are presented for your consideration.
Forget so-called recently discovered ancient documents
and previously hidden secret codes. Do not waste your
time on such things for they are all false and offer
nothing of real value. Such is mere human speculation
and presumption — not worth one cent or one second.
So, if a man dies will he live again? You bet! Jesus
is the living and unquestionable proof of that. With
that said the only remaining question is, where?
DLM |
