Twas the night before Easter this year, and I was lurking in the back of our congregation's auditorium. As usual, it was our Saturday evening meeting; and I was half in and half out of the experience. As I stood looking at a huge map of the world, I gradually sensed the presence of God filling me in the way I always know Him. As His love spilled in, I heard God laughing with me and at me. Meditation started sputtering. It was that wonderful melding of God's thoughts with mine. Christ Himself was flowing through me in a river of thoughts.
I thought, how many CSI's have I watched on TV?! The likenesses of human remains could turn anyone's stomach. Everyone reaches a moment when he or she is not just "mostly dead" but is "all dead" (to quote the movie, "The Princess Bride.") After the last breath, deterioration accelerates until each person becomes nothing more than a small pile of dust. The king and the street bum all have the same end.
When it comes to the matter of resurrection, how silly to think that in such a time, a person can offer God the slightest bit of help. How many times do we ask dumb questions like, "Who will roll the stone away from the door?" Yet how often do I think God needs my help in everyday matters. I assume I know what to do and say, "Thanks, God, I can take it from here!"
My next thought was of images from the Hubble space telescope. I kept hearing laughter in my heart. If you have trouble worrying, get a book of those photos. As you look at them, ask yourself, "I wonder if there is an intelligence gap between God and me?" As you look at the Eagle Nebula, ask the question, do I really think He expects me to figure it out?
After these thoughts, I heard a word, "Look over your lives at the things that are dead, things that are withered, things that are hopeless. Do not say, 'I don't have faith for that.' You already have enough. I will work for you; and this time you cannot help Me. I will do it. I will do what you can't for I am the God who raises from the dead."
Those things that God does are forever, even if they are only piles of dust right now. Do you know whether or not what you are doing right now is God initiated or simply man generated? It's important to know it because your time and resources need not be wasted on what will not rise from the dead.
Isn't it good to know that God is in control, the same God who created the places we see in the Hubble telescope?
Maybe you have done all that you can do. Perhaps you are so tired that you cannot do anymore about it or carry its weight. If you are in doubt about the origin of anything, go ahead, let it go into God's hand. If it is eternal, He will apply His unmistakable seal of loving approval: resurrection.
Don't try to make futile attempts to help God by resucitating things that do not have God's mark. They are no more useful to God's Kingdom than dust. Only that which Divine love generates goes on forever. If you want to see Him work through you, love Him and love people. That is enough. Perhaps now it is time to pay God the highest compliment that you can give Him, trust Him.
