Corona virus has reminded us that sometimes life can be very uncertain. It has caused us all to reflect on how precious human life is. We don’t like to hear about anyone dying, let alone thousands of people every day.
The sad truth is that ultimately we all die.
In 1918 the year the Spanish Flu Pandemic started, the world population was estimated to be 1.8 billion. That was 102 years ago. So nearly all of the people alive then have since died!
However the good news is that God’s word the Bible contains some very special promises that provide great hope for us all.
In the gospel record of John chapter 5, Jesus said in verses 25 to 29:
Most assuredly I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
For as the Father has life in himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man.Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth- those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation
Some time later in John 11 Jesus came to the house of some dear friends, Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus. Lazarus had become very sick and had died. His sisters and all their relatives and friends were devastated.
By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead 4 days and had already been buried in a tomb.
Martha was heartbroken, but Jesus said to her in verse 25,26:
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.
Jesus then stood at the tomb and insisted they roll the stone away. He prayed to God and then commanded,
Lazarus come forth
Lazarus who had died walked out of the tomb alive!
This proved Jesus had the power to raise someone from the dead.
Notice what Jesus had promised to Martha: though we may die, we will live again and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die!
Why? Because of what Jesus said in John 5. He tells us in verse 28 that all who have died will hear the voice of Jesus calling and come forth from their graves, just like Lazarus did.
For those who have believed in Jesus Christ and been faithful in their lives, it will be a resurrection of life. They will be made immortal and will never die again!
Right now Jesus is in heaven sitting at God’s right hand.
When God gives the word, Jesus will return to earth, raise the dead and those who have been faithful will be given eternal life. They will live forever in God’s glorious Kingdom that Jesus will establish on this earth.
Then the seventh angel sounded(his trumpet): And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord (God) and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!
Revelation 11: 15
More and more events are indicating this time may be very soon.
Our earth is under great stress with many problems to try and solve. Not just COVID-19, with the terrible loss of life and associated financial issues across the world economies.
There are huge issues with climate change: drought, famine, bushfires, floods, freak storms and rising sea levels.
As we saw, in 1918 the population was 1.8 billion. A century later it is 7.8 billion! The world cannot cope with the number of poor, starving and homeless, even when things are going well.
How much more difficult when other issues like disease occur!
In the 20th century there was not one day when the earth was totally free from war, and we see a similar or worse pattern looming this century also!
Jesus said that just before his coming there would be fear and distress across the world:
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and the expectation of those things that are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Luke 21: 25,26
It sounds a pretty hopeless situation!
But Jesus goes on in verses 27,28:
Then they will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
What a wonderful hope the Bible gives us if we will just believe God’s word and and trust Him with our future