Monday 10 September 2012

CELEBRATING DEATH?

READ: HEBREWS 2:9-15
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26). In Luke 9:59-60, Jesus said the dead should bury the dead. As children of God, we should not celebrate death. We should celebrate life – when souls are saved, or when babies are born. We should rejoice when God is blessing us and when his work in us and through us is progressing. Death is an enemy. We do not celebrate our enemy.
After Elisha’s death, he was buried. Much later a man was being buried in the same graveyard. The men burying him saw some enemies approaching, so they hurriedly dumped the corpse in Elisha’s grave and ran for their lives. The Bible says that when the dead man came into contact with Elisha’s bones, he immediately came to life and stood to his feet! One encounter with God is enough to change your entire life. 
There are different ways to encounter God. Like Bartimaeus you cry to him when he is passing by. If you know what route he will take, you could wait for him there. This was what the woman of Shunem did in 2 kings 4:8-17, and before long she was carrying a baby boy.
If you know where he stays, go and meet him there, like the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7.  She ran to the man of God and he had no peace until her joy was full. You could also stay just where you are and invite him to meet you there.
John 4:23-24 says that God is a spirit, and that he looks for those who will worship him in spirit and truth. That means God is concerned with how you praise and worship him. If you do it for the right reasons, he will respond. If not, he will stay back. Invite him to meet you today!
MEMORIZE: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:26 –The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.