Raising the dead

In today's zombie and vampire saturated television experience the seemingly dead seem to be running amok. Real life does not mirror these shows fortunately, or does it? In both the Book of Kings and the Gospel of Luke Elijah and Jesus raise a dead person to life. Imagine today if we saw a similar occurrence, how might we react? I find that because of my spiritual blindness that these occurrences might be happening around me daily, but because I tend to focus on the biblical description of dead coming to life I probably do not recognize a person that is spiritually dead coming to life.

How many people in my daily encounters have overcome some tragedy or affliction only to carry on and accomplish the extraordinary? Because our culture focuses more on the negative aspect of life, the news cycle is a constant hum of brokenness and vitriol, we tend to see or hear about these stories. "See! Your son is alive," Elijah states to the widow. What may seem to be dead by our perspective can come to life.

We can look to Paul's story in Galatians today and know that one of strongest persecutors of the early Church can be changed. Paul states on many occasions that he was dead and is now alive.  If Paul's life was resurrected, certainly those who we may see as having little hope or who have caused us great pain and suffering can have a life altering experience. We may not see Jesus, but know that the Holy Spirit is working through others to cause this change. Having the tendency to doubt is certainly part of our society as well. I find that through prayer for those that may have caused pain and suffering some of this doubt about a person's newly found life can be overcome. Remembering that all things are done in God's time not mine is important as well. "I believe, help me in my unbelief," cries out the centurion when he comes upon Jesus and pleas for his aid for his sick son. Likewise help me in my own unbelief that others can be changed.