(John 11:25) “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” This verse was spoken at the graveside of Lazarus before Jesus raised him from the dead. It has been said that it’s a good thing that Jesus only spoke the words “Lazarus come forth,” for if he had only said “come forth,” all the dead would have risen up. 1) Jesus is the resurrection. For without him there can be no life after death. Ever since the garden of Eden, man’s body and soul has been cursed with death, and so the body must go back to the dust from where it came (Gen. 3:19), but the spirit and soul back to the creator for judgment (Heb. 9:27). Life began with God, but death was brought on by man, and so only in Jesus Christ is there found eternal salvation. The resurrection from the dead is nothing more than the human body being brought back to life and put back together after death, by God. Until then the body sleeps here, while the soul and spirit of man lives on in either heaven or hell awaiting the time of judgment (Dan. 12:2). “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” 2) Jesus is the life. The believer in Jesus will therefore have more than just an eternal salvation to enjoy, but a new eternal body fashioned after Jesus’ resurrected body, (Phil 3:21). “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,...” The resurrection to the saved is living again in a new younger body enjoying heaven for eternity, but the unsaved body will remain cursed and end up “in the lake which burneth with fire and brimestone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8).
( Gen 41:41-43) “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt... A nd he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” When Joseph was introduced to us in chp.37, he was a young inexperienced 17 year old boy, and yet 13 years later God raised him up to rule the nation of Egypt. So, what made him different ? The Answer : “ Time,” and his faith in God ! You see time is a wonderful teacher; 1) Time strengthens endurance . Endurance and faith can only be strengthened over time. Like exercise, we start out not able to do much but over time we find that we can do more. You see, God allows us to go through the ups and downs of life, to help us gain not only spiritual maturity, but also spiritual abilities. Spiritual endurance therefore enables us to handle life’s trials better. 2) Time strengthens patience . Although Joseph, ...
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