Day 4: Over the grave
Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live (John 5:25).
O Lord, Your are the great I AM, the self-existent, life-giving source of all that has ever been, all that is now, and all that will ever be (Exodus 3:14-15). You spoke life into deep darkness and vast nothingness by the power of Your Word and the breath of Your Spirit (Genesis 1-2).
In the highest order of earthly life You formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). You placed him in a garden surrounded by a marvelous creation that throbbed, pulsed, and teemed with life, and vigor, and abundance.
But then death and decay came — ushered in by man's disobedience and rebellion. Yet, even then, You promised that ultimately, death would not be strong enough to conquer life.
Through the ages You reminded us of Your word, “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death (Hosea 13:14). Then in Your perfect timing (Galatians 4:4), the powerful Word who had spoken life over creation stepped into creation and declared, I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
And over the deep darkness and the vast nothingness of sin You spoke new life, and re-creation and rebirth. The One in whom was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:4), again declared "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). And light came to souls (Isaiah 9:2, Luke 1:78-79) — and they were resurrected from darkness and were born again (John 3:3-17).
You defeated and disarmed forever (Colossians 2:15) the thief who had infiltrated Your perfect garden with the intent to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10 – NKJV).
You made a public spectacle of [the powers and authorities], triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15). And in Your resurrection power You scoff at death, hell, and the grave:
Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?..." (Hosea 13:14). “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Lord, You hold the keys to death and hell (Revelation 1:18 - NIRV). And You promised most assuredly that those dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1 - NKJV) will hear [Your voice] and those who hear will live (John 5:25).
Today, as You speak Your powerful word into the void and the waste — into the destruction and the darkness of this world — may the dead hear and live. May they rise up in new life as You call over the grave, "Come forth!" (John 11:43).
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