Time for your Comeback
God is in the business of Comebacks
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)
Moses was in his own eyes a hopeless case, a failure, an outcast, a man on the run, a man in hiding, a man who had deserted his call and had settled for an ordinary mundane life: family, kids, job, sheep... until one day GOD...
Hezekiah was on his death bed and the prophet had already told him that his end has come. He begged the Lord and wept before Him reminding Him of how he had served Him. The Lord answered swiftly and healed him and gave him another 15 years. As a sign he made the shadow or the clock go back 10 steps. God reversed time for Hezekiah. He gave him another chance, another chance for victory against the king of Assyria.
The Bible is full of similar stories, from Joseph in the dungeons of Egypt to Jesus in the grave...
Last night, I had a dream. In my dream, I was in a locker room and this coach was speaking to me. He was speaking with a very loud and commanding voice but there was so much love in His voice. I don't know if it was an angel, a saint or God. While He was encouraging me, he referred to Moses, and there was Moses in the room with us. I asked about Hezekiah and there was Hezeziah in the locker room with us and so many others I can not recall all of them... they were all nodding their heads in agreement with the "coach". When I woke up I was reminded of Hebrews 12:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Life can hit us hard sometimes. We come against the wall and feel like that's the end of it. We feel like there can be no way out, let alone any way that we might find it in ourselves the same fervor and zeal to dive in one more time and give it all we have. Sampson had lost it; all his strength, his sight, his dignity, and freedom. He asked for one last chance, one last comeback. David almost lost all of his kingdom. Hezekiah, while reminding God of the days when he walked faithfully and with wholehearted devotion before him, he was actually realizing and confessing that that's all that really matters and that that's all that he would want to be found in; wholehearted devotion! But was feeling restless, sick in bed, about to die...
How hard is life hitting you? Are you in a hiding place? Has sin hit you hard and you feel entangled now, unable to move and breathe? Have you crawled back into an indifferent mode, waiting for your time to die to come?
You're not alone. You have a coach and teammates, many who are still running the race and others who have been in your situation and have already made it. They are right there cheering you along. They are right there surrounding you. God's commanding and loving voice is right there and you know it! He is reminding you of all who did it, telling you that you can do it too! Just as He was with Moses, He is with you. The resurrected Christ on the right side of the Father in the flesh is right there for you and me! He is our advocate, and the Spirit within cries out "Abba-Father", a "help"-cry which our human tongue cannot utter. And He will deliver... It's time for our comeback. Just when the world thought that there can be no getting back up, here come the people of the resurrection! Here comes the team, whose coach is not a mere man, but a God-Man, standing in Heaven, speaking with power, speaking the Words of Life, this world and all the demons recognize full well! The Words of Jesus: "Lazarus, Come out!" (John 11:43)
