" . . . Thy brother shall rise again." John 11:23
This was the blessed comfort which Jesus gave to Martha in answer to her cry of sorrow, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." There was in her plaint, a hint of blaming the Lord for the delay in His coming when He first heard the news of Lazarus' illness (John 11:6). But Jesus ignores the suggestion and answers, "Thy brother shall live again." Look ahead, Martha, not to the past. Look ahead, for the past is gone and holds only memories. Surely there are precious memories, but they are made real in the hope of meeting again. Memory does have comfort for those whose loved ones have passed on. Yet memory is not an unmixed comfort. There are thorns among its flowers: "For sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things."
True joy and settled peace cannot exist on memories alone; for that we look to the future. Hope of the future relieves the pang of the past. It tells of the reunion, the partingless meeting. It leaps over the years of waiting, the valleys of loneliness, and drives the shadows of today away by the light of the promise of hope. Have you recently lost loved ones? Is your heart sad? Are you prone to be morbid and confused as you engage only in memories? Then listen! Don't seek the living among the dead. Remember Jesus' words. He shall live again.
Don't be like the wife who spent hours each day in a seat by the grave of her husband weeping and sobbing over memories. It is well to show our affection and love, but to that wife we would say, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" Rather, be like the dear old widowed lady who looked up from her Bible and smiling brightly said, "I was just reading and rejoicing in His promise, that those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him; for my John will be there. Oh happy day!"
"Bread For Each Day"
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