A thought by Mark Batterson (2014-09-02) from his
book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 262).
Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on
the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
Jesus when He came to
the tomb where His good friend Lazarus was buried asked Martha, Lazarus sister
a question. He had just talked about the
fact that He was the resurrection and the life and He asked Martha this point
blank question, “Do you believe this?”
Mark says, “Remember: Jesus hadn’t called Lazarus out of the tomb quite
yet, so Martha was still in the depths of despair. Hope was four days dead. Yet
Martha responds with her simple profession of faith: ‘Yes, Lord.’” (John 11: 27
NLT)
Jesus when He came to
the tomb where His good friend Lazarus was buried asked Martha, Lazarus sister
a question. He had just talked about the
fact that He was the resurrection and the life and He asked Martha this point
blank question, “Do you believe this?”
Mark says, “Remember: Jesus hadn’t called Lazarus out of the tomb quite
yet, so Martha was still in the depths of despair. Hope was four days dead. Yet
Martha responds with her simple profession of faith: ‘Yes, Lord.’” (John 11: 27
NLT)
Mark continues, “One
little yes can change your life. One little yes can change your eternity. The
litmus test is the same now as it was then. The only question on God’s final
exam is: Do you believe this? It’s not a multiple-choice question. It’s true or
false. And it’s the most important question you’ll ever answer. That one
decision will determine your eternal destiny. The good news is that it’s an
open-book exam, and God reveals the right answer in Romans 10: 9: ‘If you
confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ (ESV)”
Just as Martha
answered, “Yes” and Jesus brought out her brother alive from his tomb God wants
to do the same for us. Mark says, “The
resurrection of dead bodies is nothing short of miraculous, and the
rematerialization of dead bodies when Christ returns is going to be must-see
TV. But the resurrection miracles don’t stop there. God raises dreams from the
dead. He resurrects dead relationships. And no matter what part of your
personality has died at the hands of sin or suffering or Satan himself, the
Grave Robber came to give you your life back!”
Maybe that is where
you are today and God is asking you this question, “Do you believe this?” There is so much to gain with the right
answer.
Mark says, “When Jesus
died on the cross, Satan smiled. But the Grave Robber got the last laugh. He
always does. And if you give Him a chance, He’ll give you a second chance. He
will give you your smile back. He will give you your laugh back. He will give
you your life back.”
Do you believe this?
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