YOU "WILL" MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE!

                                                  

MAKING IT TO THE FINISH LINE

“… He that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).  

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 It is NOT always easy to continue to walk upright when BAD, DIFFICULT, TRAGIC, or MIND-BLOWING events and experiences happen or are happening. The bible says: “….LET US NOT GROW WEARY while doing good, for in DUE SEASON we shall reap if we do not lose heart…” (Galatians 6:9 KJV). 

We may “lose heart” when we go through DEATH, DISAPPOINTMENTS, LOSS, HEARTBREAK, DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS, OR BROKEN DREAMS (Galatians 6:9 KJV). “…In DUE SEASON we shall reap if we do not lose heart…” (Galatians 6:9 KJV). 

We may not be exactly like the men-servants in Luke 12:45, but we may come to a resigning, adapting, or settling conclusion, because Jesus, the WORD, has delayed his coming into our situations and circumstances of life. “…My Lord delayeth his coming…” (Luke 12:45 KJV). 

Eventually, however, no matter how many days or years have passed, God will manifest his GLORY and turn things around for the good. “…And in the PROCESS of time “IT” CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV). “...ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV). 

People grow TIRED and WEARY from waiting. The bible says: “… They that WAIT UPON the LORD shall renew [their] strength…” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV).  “…WAIT ON the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…The LORD [is] good unto them that WAIT FOR HIM…” (Lamentations 3:25 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).  

Making it to the FINISH LINE of OUR HOPES, DREAMS, or PRAYERS, which depend upon the POWER of God’s promises, becomes overwhelmingly challenging  "WHILE" we are WAITING. However, “…the one who endures to the end, he will be saved…” (Matthew 24:13 NASB). 

It is the details and process that becomes challenging, especially if, like Mary and Martha, you have experienced a loved one go through a difficult sickness, take their last breath and die, be funeralized, and left in a tomb. . “…if thou hadst been HERE my brother had NOT died…” (John 11:21 KJV). 

Such events and experiences can weaken you and cause you to GIVE UP before getting to the FINISH LINE or the promised ENDING of a journey. . “…if thou hadst been HERE my brother had NOT died…” (John 11:21 KJV). 

God promised Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death, but it “LOOKED” like it DID end in DEATH. “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). 

What promises of God did you RELY upon that LOOK as if it is a DEAD or FAILED promise? “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; ALL CAME TO PASS…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).  

Was Lazarus’ physical DEATH the FINISH LINE or end of the journey for Martha and Mary’s HOPES, DREAMS, and PRAYERS regarding their brother? NO, but it “LOOKED” like it was. Why wasn’t it the end? Because Jesus, the WORD, told them: “…this sickness is NOT unto death, but for the glory of God…” (John 11:4 KJV). “…"Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV). 

What was the FINISH LINE or END PROMISE for Martha and Mary’s HOPES, DREAMS, and PRAYERS in regard to their brother? “…you will “see” the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV). AND “…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). 

Did God’s WORD inspire your HOPES, DREAMS, or PRAYERS for a restored relationship, to see a sick relative or friend well again, to save a wayward child, to change a situation or circumstance, to break an addiction, but after days, weeks, months, or years “IT” NEVER came to pass? “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). 

Did YOU, like Martha and Mary, HEAR, through the WORD of God, a promise in regard to YOUR "own" situation? “…this sickness is NOT unto death…” (John 11:4 KJV). Did Lazarus die? Does your situation look DEAD too?

Even Jesus said, “…Lazarus is dead…” (John 11:14 KJV). 

Did Jesus, the WORD, lie? “…God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19 NASB). “…If we are unfaithful (in depending upon the POWER of his WORD), he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “... some of them were unfaithful (in depending upon the POWER of his WORD); but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?  Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true....” (Romans 3:3-4 NLT).

Did God lie to you? After so many days or years of waiting and delays, what do you think about God’s promises NOW? What did Martha and Mary think? “…said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had NOT died…Mary was come where Jesus was….saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had NOT died…” (John 21, 32 KJV). 

Jesus responded  with GRACE and LOVE, to the sisters, with a REMINDER of the PROMISE he’d made. “…Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”   …” (John 11:22-27 NASB). “…If we are unfaithful (in depending upon the POWER of his WORD), he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “... some of them were unfaithful (in depending upon the POWER of his WORD); but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?  Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true....” (Romans 3:3-4 NLT).

Do you have DOUBTS about God’s WORD to you? Or do you have LIMITED knowledge or experience about the POWER of God's WORD! Did Martha and Mary doubt Jesus or did they have a LIMITED knowledge about the POWER of his WORD? “…Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” …” (John 11:22-27 NASB). 

Has your HOPE, DREAMS, or PRAYERS inspired by and founded upon God’s promises ended in disappointment after disappointment? Will Martha and Mary be disappointed too? “…HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT… (ROMANS 5:5 NASB). “…For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED…" (ROMANS 10:11 NASB). “… HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM  (depends upon the power of his word)WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED… (ROMANS 9:33 NASB). “…In You they trusted (depended upon) and WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED…. (PSALMS 22:5 NASB).  

Why BELIEVE “IN” him, or depend upon Jesus, the WORD, if the situation dies anyway? “….” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection (bring back from the dead) and the life (restorer of life); he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world…” (John 11:22-27 NASB). 

If you have believed like Martha and Mary believed, what is the problem? Martha and Mary believed in Jesus, believed in the resurrection, believed he was the Son of God, and believed God would do whatever he asked of him. “…Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You …” (John 11:22-27 NASB).

With ALL their professed faith in Jesus, the WORD, Martha and Mary experienced Lazarus death so that they would BELIEVE. “…I am glad for your sakes (Mary, Martha, you, me, his disciples, etc.) that I was not there (when Lazarus died), to the intent, you may BELIEVE….” (John 11:15 KJV). “…I knew that thou (God) hearest me (Jesus, the WORD) always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe (depend upon the power of your word and) that thou hast sent me (YOUR WORD)…” (John 11:41-42 KJV).

 BELIEVE WHAT?  You will ultimately OBTAIN eternal LIFE. “…The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…HE “WILL” KEEP YOU STRONG to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). 

Everything else TEACHES you to depend upon the POWER of God's WORD, in the HERE and NOW, with a stronger, more dependent, and greater FAITH. Therefore, events and experiences are practice for the exercise of your faith so “… that… [you]… may believe (depend greater)that thou (God) hast sent [jesus, his  powerful word]…” (John 11:41-42 KJV).

 WHO sent WHO? GOD sent JESUS, the WORD. “…This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him  (depend upon him) whom he hath sent (jesus, his  powerful word)…” (John 6:28-29 KJV). 

WHO was SENT? “… HE …sent His Son (Jesus, the Word)...” (1 John 4:10 KJV). Who EXACTLY is his Son, Jesus? “…the WORD… [was] … made flesh, and dwelt among us, we beheld his glory (his presence, his goodness, his power), glory of the ONLY begotten… [specially created SON]… of the Father, full of grace and truth… [which]… came through Jesus Christ (the word)…” (John 1:14, 17 KJV). Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). JESUS, THE WORD OF GOD, HAS ALL POWER. “… Jesus (the WORD of GOD) …came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV).

 “… He (who or whatever “he” represents to you) that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).