They Don't Call it the "Good News" for Nothing...

For the past few days, John 11:3 has been on my heart. It says, "Lord, the one you love is sick." Tonight, I decided to go and read the whole passage. You probably know the story- Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. If you don't, go read it-it's beautiful. And this is probably a really cheesy post but it is on my heart so I am going to write it anyways.

You know, one thing I love about scripture is that you can read it multiple times and take away different messages each time. It's truly amazing how it can apply to so many people and so many situations. There really is something in there for everyone. Anyways, the last time I read this passage I think I took away something about how God does everything in his own time and for his own glory (this makes sense when you look at how Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead four days until he went to go and "heal" him). However, this time, I was extremely hit by the sickness part. I'm sick with a fatal condition- it's called sin. And sometimes, I forget about it. But then other times, like the past few days, I am so profoundly aware of it. Lord, the one you love is sick. But then you get down to verse 14 and you find out that Lazarus is dead. Lord, the one you love is dead. BUT (best but ever?) you read through to verse 23, where Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die." Isn't that great news? Lord, the one you love is ALIVE! That's the gospel! Doesn't that just make you want to shout "HE LOVES ME!" so the whole world can hear? HE LOVES ME HE LOVES ME HE LOVES ME!!! Even though we are sick, he loves us. And because of that love, he died for us. He died to heal our sickness. He died to redeem us- to wash our sins white as snow. He died so that he can be with us forever and ever and ever. He died to give us LIFE (and not just life...abundant life- John 10:10).

No matter how messed up things may be, God can heal our sickness if we will just draw near to him and confess that we NEED his help. It's just like in the song "How He Loves" (which is amazing, btw). One of the lines speaks of how our afflictions are eclipsed by his glory. Our afflictions are eclipsed by his grace. Our afflictions are eclipsed by his love. He is the resurrection and he is the life. Sometimes, that's just a message you need to be reminded of.
PB&J