God of the Living

 “But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive” (Luke 20:37-38).

Jesus was talking to Sadducees and they did not believe in the reality of a resurrection. They were the secularists of Jesus’ day, more concerned with political power in the present than eternity in the future. Jesus was correcting their false view of life after death. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, “for to him all are alive.”

It is easy to think of life as our time on earth. Jesus taught that our lives extend far beyond our natural lifetimes. When we die physically we go on living. Paul said of believers that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Moses at the burning bush called God the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are still alive.

The woman who nursed the agnostic, Professor J. H. Huxley, through his last illness said that as he lay dying he suddenly looked up, stared and whispered his last words, “So it is true.” It is true! There is life after we die physically and for those who believe in Jesus it is life in the presence of God forever.

He Doesn't Give Up on Us!

 “Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times’ ” (Luke 22:60-61).

No one who follows Jesus wants to fail. This was one of the most noted failures in history. Peter, who had followed Jesus for three years, denied knowing Him. If any event would look on the surface like a disqualifying decision it would be Peter’s denying Christ. Peter himself was so broken by his failure that he wept bitterly.

Peter had thought he wasn’t capable of failing this miserably. He had said that if all others forsook Jesus he would not. He’s like many of us who look ahead and overestimate what we would do under pressure. His pride and self-confidence were shattered.

That, however, isn’t the end of Peter’s story. When Jesus rose from the dead He sent word to His disciples “and Peter.” When we give up on ourselves He doesn’t give up on us. On the day of Pentecost Peter stood and openly proclaimed his allegiance to Jesus. He did that at the risk of his own safety. Don’t let a moment of failure ruin the rest of your life. Jesus forgives us our weaknesses and empowers us to go on to a life of purpose. Failure doesn’t disqualify us because we serve a God who knows how to restore us so we can fulfill our destinies.