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God of the living

A newspaper reported about a man who showed up in good health after being reported missing more than 25 years earlier. At the time of his disappearance he had been unemployed, addicted, and hopelessly behind in child support payments. So he decided to go into hiding. On his return, however, he discovered that the court records showed he was dead. When the man went to court to reverse the records, the judge rejected his request, citing the statute of limitations that says there is a three year time limit for changing a death record. He is a living man with a death record.

In the first three (synoptic) gospels we see the Sadducees who did not believe in resurrection (Matt 22, Mark 12, Luke 20) pose a question to Jesus. A widow marries seven brothers in sequence as each brother dies. They assume that if there is a resurrection, the woman would be guilty of polygamy with seven husbands in heaven. Jesus answers, “ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Jesus continues with the teaching that God had said to Moses "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). That does not mean that He is just the God of the people who have died in the past, rather He is the same God who is committed to the present and to the future. It is a statement declaring that He is the God of eternity who does not have past, present or future.

Marriage is important in this world for the caring of each other and the continunance life. But in eternity, there is no need for marriage or child birth because nobody dies and 'all are alive.' The question He asks them is what is important? marriage or eternity? Jesus said, " “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11). Resurrection experience starts as fullness of life here on earth that follows to life after death. Paul taught clearly that God has “made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:1,5) and " you have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne" (Eph 2:6).

All people are born with dates of death recorded on them. We are not dead, rather we are eternal beings living in the land of the dying going on a journey to the land of the living. We start the resurrection experience in this life by believing in the resurrection of Jesus on a journey to eternity after death. Death and decay are part of life on this earth. Life and happiness are part of the life eternal. We live in bodies subject to pain, suffering and death. We may pass through hardship with loneliness, heartache, and pain for a while. Resurrection is the assurance that we can shed our pains and hurts to make room for God's blessings in the midst of them. Death is strong, but life is stronger; darkness is dull, but light is brighter; evil is painful, but righteousness prevails, disappointment is bitter but hope triumphs if we believe in the God of the living.

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Blessings

Mathew Philip

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