Resurrection, Restoration

Read Ezekiel 37-39
 
Ezekiel 37:11-14 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones – all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!’”
 
THE resurrection and restoration images in Ezekiel 37 are as powerful as God breathing life into the man (Genesis 1) and as Jesus calling Lazarus from the grave (John 11). There is no place as unrelenting as the grave. Once you are in the grave, hope for life is gone. The grave is final unless some magnificent miracle occurs.
   As a Christian, then, are you not overwhelmed with joy that the magnificent miracle has come? Hear again Jesus’ promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (John 11:25-26). We thank God the grave is the doorway to heaven in Jesus’ power. Paul confessed this in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
   The Valley of Dry Bones represents complete destruction. The Jews’ hope in Babylon would have been as dried up and lifeless as those bones. But with mercy and purpose, God offered a magnificent miracle out of Babylon’s “grave”. He promised to resurrect their hope with this wonderful “born again” message to his people.
   Would not his promise then ignite a spark of hope? Would that spark grow and glow with the fire of God’s glory, anticipating that one day they would again live in the Promised Land?
   With hope reborn in their hearts, the Jews could endure and even enjoy their exile. They could seek and absorb God’s teachings under God’s blessed assurance to prepare for the day of their return to Judah and Jerusalem.
   Is this not our life, too? Exiled from heaven, we can enjoy our time here on earth to prepare for the glorious Day of the LORD.
   Do you need a living hope today? Place your hope in Jesus’ resurrection. Know the Father has come through the Son and the Spirit to reconnect your dry bones to the Resurrection and the Life. Cast aside all doubts. Turn from all distractions. Release things of temporary value. Set your eyes to the eternal. Know in your soul that God has promised and has prepared an eternal Promised Land for you.
   Rejoice! Through Jesus, the grave is not final.