By Bill Kent

Yesterday, I was driving on Highway 301 on the way to church and went over a hill.  Suddenly, I saw a white Mustang trying to pass, and it was directly in front of me.  I slammed on the brakes.  Would I have to run in the ditch to miss the oncoming car?  For a moment, my life was in danger, but the cars on the other side of the road slowed down.  The Mustang got back on his side of the road just in time.  Thank the Lord!  In moments like these, our life flashes before us and we are reminded how precious life is.  We look forward to Heaven as believers, but we are not in a rush to get there.

Life is fragile like eggs in a carton, which are easily cracked.  However, the Bible inspires us because God restores dead people to life in front of eyewitnesses.  The Scriptures give us much hope.  The righteous man Job spoke with confidence about living again. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know that in my flesh I shall see God,” (Job 19:25-26).  As the Apostle Paul testified, Heaven is far better than this present world. “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart to be with Christ, which is far better.” (Philippians 1:23).

In the days of the Prophet Elijah and also in the time of Elisha, God did many miracles including raising the dead to life.  The widow of Zarephath grieved over the loss of her son, but God turned her sorrow into rejoicing. “Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him and he revived,” (1 Kings 17:22).  In a similar way, the Lord raised the son of the Shunammite woman to life after death as recorded in II Kings Chapter 4.  In the New Testament, a host of people watched Jesus raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead and also, Lazarus.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the tomb, He gave a preview of his own resurrection. “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25). Soon Jesus died on a Cruel Cross, but he rose to live again early on a Sunday morning.  Therefore, we have hope.  Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also,” (John 14:19).