Can You Prove That You Are Alive?

One day a man literally had a shocking experience. He was standing in the bathtub and reached up to turn on a light. He received a tremendous jolt of electricity and fell out of the tub. His wife called the doctor. He pronounced him dead.

In accordance with the government health regulation, his body was placed in a vault beneath the cemetery chapel. Some hour’s later, in an open casket, the man regained consciousness. At first he had no idea where he was or what had happened. He climbed out of the casket to find the vault door closed.  He shook the door and cried for help. The guard was terrified and fled. Finally, the guard got some help and came back and opened the door.

The man ran to the nearest phone and called his wife. When he told her that he was coming home she shrieked and hung up the phone. Then she fainted. Next he tried going to several homes of his neighbors. They took one look at him, standing outside the front door, and slammed the door in his face, thinking that he was a ghost. At last he found a friend that had not heard that he was dead, whom he convinced that he really was alive, who acted as a go between. Gradually this man was able to convince friends and family that he really was alive.

Spiritually speaking, can you prove that you are alive? In Revelation 3:1 Jesus speaks out against the church at Sardis. This church had a reputation of being alive, but they couldn’t prove it to Jesus Christ. He told them, “I know your deeds that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead”.

This world is filled with the living dead – alive physically, but dead spiritually. Those who are living in sin are dead spiritually according to Ephesians 2:1: “And you are dead in your trespasses and sins”. Paul explains why this is so in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death…” Spiritual death is the result of committing sin. Since “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) then all men are separated from God. Death is separation. Just as the Judge was separated in his relationship with his wife and neighbors because they thought he was dead physically so we are separated from God through spiritual death.

What can man do to have life? He has sinned, sin has brought death and death has separated him from God. Although Paul tells us that the wages of sin is death in Romans 6:23 he goes on to say “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”. Just as the man was able to find a go between to convince his friends he was not dead and renew their relationship, so we must find Jesus to renew our relationship with God. We need to be thankful that God sent Jesus to give us life. “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the World, so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).

In order to prove that you are alive spiritually you must obey the gospel and continue to demonstrate your spiritual life in your daily living. Why? Because only through Jesus can a sinner obtain and maintain his spiritual life. Only is Jesus “…the way, the truth, and THE LIFE…” (Jn. 14:6). Without Him you are dead.

– Daniel R. Vess

Worrying Life Away

A study by the university of Wisconsin revealed that 40% of the worries of people are over things that never happen, 30% are over the past and things which cannot be changed, 22% are over petty and needless worries, and only 8% are over things legitimate.

Few things in life take as much time and produce less in return as worry. Worry is a futile waste of time. We need to use our time wisely by not worrying. “Making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). There is a time to worry. Jesus tells us about that time in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Again in verse 28 He asks, “And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin.” To summarize His point lets consider the following piece of poetry titled “When to Worry”.

When we see the lilies spinning in distress,
Taking thought to manufacture a dress.
When we see the birds all building barns for store,
T’will then be time for us to worry not before.
So remember, worry is a futile waste of time.

Worry can never change the past, but it can ruin the present, and kill your future. So don’t worry your life away.

– Daniel R. Vess

Actual Thoughts Behind a Prayer

“Dear Lord, We are daily mindful of our dependence upon Thee. (Even though this is the first time I’ve prayed in six weeks). Help us to be content with such things that we have. (If I can’t get that new car next week, I’m going to die trying). Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. (I work all day, and watch TV all night). We are thankful for the many good things that we have received from Thy bountiful hand. (I simply can’t live on what I’m, making. I don’t know where my next meal is coming from). And help us to get much from the sermon that is about to be delivered. (I hope the old buzzard makes it short, I want to get ahead of that chow line at lunch). And bring us back together to worship Thee at the next appointed time. (“The next appointed time” will catch me flat on my back on the couch watching a ball game.) And when Thou hast worn us out in Thy service, take us home to meet Thee and all the saints in heaven. (Heaven? I don’t know anybody in heaven. And “Wear us out in Thy service??” I am already worn out from staying up most of the night. I can hardly hold my eyes open now). In the name of Thy Son and our Savior we pray. Amen. (“Our Savior”? Is he really my Savior, after all?)

by Guthrie Dean

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Categories: The Forum