I recall my eyesight being blurry, following extended staring and crying sessions: I couldn't peel my eyes off of my babe in arms, my sweet gift from God, and tears of gratitude flowed frequently. How in the world? The answer to this question, is God, in the world, in the making, in the creating, and crafting, and providing, that is how.
People call babies miracles, and yet, a google search has informed me that 360 000-370 000 are born daily, all over the world. The fact that neither you, nor I, can make a baby, does give the impression that they are indeed, miraculous! Stay with me now: How is it that you were at one time, DNA (a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information), an egg and a sperm ... an egg, dear reader, and a sperm ... you were formed from these two substances but in each of these items there is so much more! You were replicated based on your mother and your father's encoded egg and sperm combo. Yes of course this is obvious to you, you know how the "science" works, but can you make this stuff up and have it happen? Can you replicate?
It is the vulgar reckoning of man, the vanity of the conceited, that has them believing they can do as God has done. Monkeys copy, and man is like a monkey (we are not primates, we are human beings created in the image of God), when he finds ways to mimic what has been masterfully created by the hand of God. Using materials made by omniscient God, does not a mini-god make: in other words, while it is ingenious to figure out how the body works and what it takes to physically actuate a baby, and the conditions required for the human to go from egg and sperm to squirming adorableness in a parents arms, does not make a person a replicator; it is DNA that has within, the mystery of life.
Can you figure out the mystery of life, dear one? Can you?
Now, consider with me, dreaded death. While new life is awe inspiring, death is dreary and drastically depleting of all energy and life force. Death is the enemy of life, and it is in our DNA, dear one: we are destined to die. This brings me to my topic for writing.
Miracles are unnatural. Resurrection is unnatural. We are born, then we die, and there is no return policy in place. Once you and I become the dearly, or hated, departed, we simply disappear. Have you seen a dead body recently? or witnessed someone take their last breaths? I have. When the breathing stops, the stillness is so strange - no movement, no animation, absolutely no resemblance to the person that used to be. Then there is the almost immediate coldness and what is called mottling - a heart that no longer pumps, cannot distribute blood, and the skin beings to blotch. It is horrifying to witness and repulsive to stay with the dead. They become a thing, substance without essence, and this is abhorrent to the living; and because this is true, dear reader, it explains why so many are terrified of death, and the dying too - most humans would prefer to pretend death doesn't exist, and they attempt to avoid this inevitable plague, that eventually captures all.
Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross. Unlike you and me, he decided the why, the when, the where, and the how, of his life and death. You did not choose your date of birth or the family you were born into: they did not choose you either; it wasn't random like a roulette wheel spin, it was predestined, and you had no say. Resurrection, is miraculous! After three days in a tomb, the Man/God Jesus emerged, alive. By the power of God, life was restored, and prophecy was fulfilled. There isn't a human in the history of humans, that can make the claim that they were dead three days and then, reappeared for forty days to hundreds of humans, family and friends, that knew them before they dropped into the grave.
Jesus came to let us know that there is a God, he is triune, he is all powerful, and he is the Master of life, and death. He gives and he takes away, and all in his perfect timing. When we are alive, we are to be thankful, and when we are dying, we must realize we are dependent on his grace. Jesus is the Author of life, and death did not hold him captive.
You and I will die, and our spirits will continue on. The pagans of this world utilize the pretence of boasting, that they can exist forever in their "consciousness", but this is foolishness compared to the infinite wisdom of God. They swap out consciousness for spirit or soul; they hold tightly to their own aging and soon to be decrepit bodies, rather than embracing the giver of life. They are the walking dead, denying deity, and God has given them over to their vain imaginings.
Let us draw near to closing this topic with some clarifying statements. You are currently alive: this I know because you are reading these words. You will die, just like the people that came before you have done. You will not be able to bring yourself back because you never had the power of life in the first place: it was never up to you to create yourself. If this seems too simplistic and obvious, then I am glad that we are on the same page. If you actually believe you are the master of your own destiny, that somehow technology or medical interventions (is the medical system really helpful, or hurtful, dear one?) will save you and preserve you, then you are delusional. Stop by a cemetery and walk amongst the graves and ask the dead, who cannot encourage, instruct, explain, describe, or speak at all, What can you tell me about the afterlife?
Jesus is wisdom incarnate. He alone lives to forecast and inform us, and the Word of God is the fulfilling of all prophecy. Our hope is never misplaced when it settles solidly on faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. There is a Way to live forever in peace and joy, One Way, and it is through Christ the King, that died on a cross for your sins and mine, and after three days, resurrected as the conqueror of death.
If this is foolishness to you, then I pray for the blinding veil to be removed from your eyes. If this doctrine is life affirming, then I pray you carry on Christian soldier; lift up your eyes to the heavens, and delight in knowing that one day, your Saviour will appear in the clouds, and all of creation will behold his glory.
Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty
NOTE: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation on which the Christian faith is securely fastened. The signs and wonders Jesus performed were predicted and gave confidence to believers, that he was the promised Messiah. The resurrection was prophesied but man alive, can you imagine how the apostles and disciples, relatives and friends of Jesus felt, being able to see and touch him, eat and drink with him, after witnessing him crucified, and hanging dead on the cross?
Miraculous is the only word to describe this wondrous work of God.
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