Life is short

While I was meditating, the Lord led me to the Book of John Chapter 11. In the Gospel of John Chapter 11, we find the story of the resurrection of this character: Lazarus and how the Lord Jesus manifested his power in the midst of his life. And it is a passage that certainly helps us to think and meditate in this sense of what life is, what death is. It makes us think about what it will be like, what that beyond will be like.

One meditates on so many things but at the same time, something I want to emphasize is the promise that the Lord Jesus gives us through these words. And I am going to read some verses, skipped, to more or less put this reflection in context.

The Gospel of John Chapter 11 beginning in verse 1 reads like this: “Then was sick, a man named Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and Martha her sister. Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. So they sent these two sisters to say to Jesus: 'Lord, behold, the one you love is sick.' And when Jesus heard it, he said: 'This sickness is not for death but for the glory of God. So that the son of God may be glorified through her.

Look how this verse 5 says: “And Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. But when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. A little further in front, verse 17, it says: “So Jesus came and found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days.

“Bethany was near Jerusalem about fifteen furlongs, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them for their brother. So Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. And Marta said to Jesus: 'Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.' But it is also time that everything you ask of God, God will give it to you ".

I want to meditate for a moment on these words, my brothers. you know? There are times in life when things happen that for us may seem quite unfair, and I think they are things that one cannot help but see through that lens. Or rather, that our reaction, most of the time, is to say like: “Wow! But this is somewhat unfair. How could something like this happen to me? If I try to live a righteous life, I try to teach my family, my children a proper life as God commands. Why do these things sometimes happen that are so unexpected?

There is a book, which I imagine many of us have read, that says: "When what God does, it doesn't make sense." I don't know if at some point you have come across that book, but if not, I recommend that you read it. Because there are times when those same things that happen in our minds, like they don't calculate, there's something that doesn't compute in there and it's difficult for us to process those stages of life.

And here in this passage I see precisely a woman -in this case the example of Marta- who in her despair because she had this brother whom she loved so much and so much and so much, that perhaps she had sought all the resources there were and to have because he might be healed, that he might receive health in the midst of his condition. And having found nothing, the last resort he had was to reach out to the person of Jesus.

He had already had a previous encounter with Jesus. Jesus and this family were very close and after all, after not having anyone else; the most he can say is 'Look, send for Jesus and tell him to please come'.

Now, if all of us started to analyze this story, if we read it up to there, we would have a tendency to think: 'Well, maybe when Jesus found out it was ipso facto.' He was quick, he showed up, he said: “Ah! That is happening, well, I drop everything I'm doing and go there." Or at least that's how we would respond, right.

If you find out that something in your family suddenly happened and they are in an emergency at the hospital, you drop everything you are doing and run to meet that person. Or if in the workplace where you are, perhaps you are working in a department and suddenly something happens in another department and you have to run out and attend to what is happening there. You stop what you are doing and go out! to that place.

In the case of one as a Pastor, there are times when one receives this news from people, members of the church who are in emergent situations and the situation is that when one hears that, well, one's tendency Pastorally is like Wow! Well let me drop everything I'm doing and go over there and be with that family. It is a natural reaction for us to do or think that this is what is going to happen.

But here Jesus ironically took his time. Jesus intentionally when he heard that news, the text says that he decided to stay where he was for two more days. What's that? But, you are Jesus, why are you taking so long? Aren't you supposed to go? Come on, come on, Jesus, move, move.

But you know what? Jesus does not adhere to our time. Jesus does not adhere to what we truly want and desire as if it were a demand from us towards Him. But He has an intention with each of the things. Look, it didn't take until four days after Lazarus was buried that Jesus got to where he was. Look at that!

Doesn't this make us think and reflect? To some, one may think that this was unfair on Jesus' part. When Marta herself approached him, she told him: "Jesus, if you had been here, Lazarus would not have died."

I imagine that grieving woman, with her tears, perhaps she didn't even have the breath to say those words. She was so troubled that who knows if between whistles she could say 'Jesus, if you had been here, none of this would have happened'. It's like claiming something from the Lord. And I think she was free to do that.

Just as we are also free to do so with him. But Jesus' response was very interesting. Look how Jesus responds to her in verse 23. Jesus tells Martha: 'Your brother will rise again.' And Marta said to her: "Yes, Jesus, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection and on the last day." But Jesus said to her: 'I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he is dead, will live. .

“I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in me even if he is dead will live. And everyone who lives and believes in me will not die forever.

And look at this question he asks. How does he say that question at the end?: “Do you believe this? Do you believe what I am telling you or does what I am saying sound like a fallacy to you?

Look how interesting in the midst of the pain that Marta was in, Jesus dared –as if to confront her- 'Look, I'm telling you something and I'm being very serious with you. Are you going to believe me in the midst of your weakness, in the midst of your pain? Are you going to take my word? Are you going to believe what I'm saying? If you don't believe it, you won't see what you're waiting for, but if you believe it then you will see it.'

This is where I see, my brothers, that the character of Jesus makes a difference wherever he is. The person of Jesus can change things, he can change the natural course of our lives so that he can show the glory of God the Father and his also in his connection with God. Show his glory in the midst of our lives.

And of course, when we read – if I continue reading the rest of the story, look – the rest of the story is very interesting, it is a drama, it is a novel. When Jesus was prostrate there facing the tomb, the text says that: "Jesus himself began to cry." Jesus himself identified with the pain of that family because he loved that family and the same text tells us that: 'He loved that family.'

And when he got there, I think that human side of Jesus was broken. He broke down with everyone who was there. Perhaps you said to yourself: “I can't be so cold about this. I have to feel this too." And he cried, he was also sorry.

He identified with them. But after she shed her tears, a totally different Jesus rose from the ground. There rose that Jesus who has supernatural power, there rose a Jesus who has authority over life and death, there rose a Jesus where a chapter before He comes out and says: "I know my sheep and no one tells me." you can remove them. No one can snatch them out of my hand because they are in my hand." And that Jesus with that authority stood before that tomb and made a statement like no other and the character of Lazarus came out of that tomb.

There are some who might say, “Wow, Omar! That is a very beautiful novel”. But you know what? I believe that this is a true story, that Jesus operated in that way. And many times our tendency is to ask “Wow! Can Jesus also work like this in our lives? Can Jesus do the same miracles? Will Jesus be able to get someone out of a coffin?

What if you can do it? He can do it, without a doubt He can do it. Now, but whatever you want, we are already talking about something else.

you know? The Lord Himself through the word, He has written so many things that are inspired by Him, by His heart. God himself says that in life: "Everything has its time." In life everything has its time, the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us about this: "In life there is time for everything.

There is a time to laugh, there is a time to cry, there is a time to sow, there is a time to uproot, there is a time to talk, there is a time to be silent, there is a time to make peace, there is a time to make war, there is a time to embrace and there is a time to let go each one by his side. As there is also time for life and there is also time for death.

Death is part of the natural course in which God has us. It is part of the course of our lives. Sooner or later - it's interesting to me because my wife always tells me that: 'Look, life is so short and you have to enjoy it to the fullest' - and I'm happy every time I hear my wife say that, because it's the truth. She is a woman who lives full of the Lord and wants to get the most out of every minute of her life.

There are times when I wake up like this, half troubled, with my face half troubled by whatever has happened, she tells me: “Man, laugh, life is short. Cheer up". And those words, like if I'm fine, well down, like at first it's like: “Ah! Don't come to me with that again." But while I meditate on those words I say to myself: Wow, Lord! Once again you are right. Why would I be so upset, if you are the one in control of all things?

If there are things that I cannot solve, if there are things that are out of my control, why am I going to worry about it? I have to trust that You are the one who is going to work. Whether I die tomorrow or whether I die in twenty years, look, all those days are in your hands. You are the one in control of each of those things.

And of course, one does not want that moment to arrive. Unless you have suicidal thoughts, you don't want that moment to come. You don't want to meet death. No! But sooner or later that will come into our lives. Whatever the way that is.

But what I want to emphasize were the words that my sister Linda said at the end of this reflection about the Netherlands. They are some words that are centered in First Thessalonians, Chapter 4, and I want to read these verses, to put us on the same page.

Paul says speaking to this church, First Thessalonians Chapter 4 from verse 13 says: 'Nor do we want brothers to be ignorant about those who sleep -in other words those who die- so they do not grieve like those who have no hope-. Key word: do not be sad like those who have no hope- because if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will also bring with Jesus those who fell asleep in Him.

Therefore we tell you this in the word of the Lord: that we who live, who will have remained until the coming of the Lord, will not leave before those who slept. For the Lord himself with a commanding voice, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven. And the dead in Christ will rise first. And watch the drama unfold.

'And then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus we will be with Him forever.'

On several occasions I have asked this question and I am going to ask it again today: What do you think is the most distinctive aspect of our Christian faith? The most distinctive aspect of our Christian faith is precisely that promise. That we have a promise of eternal life, that we hope that when this life in this body comes to an end, there will be an eternal life that will be waiting for us.

And not with anyone, it will be an eternal life with the King of kings, the Lord of lord, the Creator of this universe and everything in it. It's going to be a face-to-face, hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder life with Him. And in conjunction with Him, you know what? All those who have confessed that He is the Lord of their lives and those that He wants to take around.

There was a time when someone asked me, Pastor, Omar, do you think that I am going to find my pet in Heaven, too? Look, you know what? Those pets are God's creation and the creation itself waits and waits for His return. I speak to you in Romans, it is there. Creation itself eagerly awaits the return of Jesus.

If he is going to meet his puppy or his kitten or his parakeet, or his little monkey or whatever? I don't know. That is in God. At least I haven't read it here in the Bible, but God does give it there. I'm going to have lots of cats and dogs waiting for me up there in heaven.

But above all these things, my brothers, I believe that I am going to reunite with those loved ones who have gone before me.

I am going to have a grandmother who gave her best, and I am going to have a school friend who was a great example for me. And so many other people: brothers in churches, the churches where I have been in the course of my life, people, men, women, people who were such an inspiration to me that when those people left this world they left such a gap. open and empty but at the same time that hole was filled with a sense of hope.

It wasn't that he was saying goodbye to that person forever, but rather that he was saying “see you later. See you later". But I can only say that because we believe in this promise that the Lord Jesus has given us.

And I take this opportunity, my brothers and sisters, I take this opportunity to share this with you today. Perhaps some of you have lost a loved one and you can identify very well with my brother Darwin. Do you know what it's like to lose someone who is so, so attached to your heart? Be it a mother, a father, a grandfather, a grandmother, an uncle, an aunt, a brother, a sister or a friend or an acquaintance. But somehow or other we can identify.

Maybe I can't say: “I know what it feels like to live that” because obviously I've never been there. But I can identify myself. And you know what? How beautiful it is to know that the one who most identifies with each one of us is God the Father!

Because He knows what it's like to lose a loved one, He knows what it's like to see that precious child, being absorbed by the power of death. And precisely because He Himself has control over life and death, He says: “No, my son is not going to end there. I am going to raise my son”.

And the power of the resurrection was shown there. And that power did not stop there, but has been extended to each one of us as a promise that the moment will come when, if we get to be seven feet underground, there will be a power that will work in us and will to rise with a fully glorified body.

If you are going to get married in heaven or not, look, I don't know, but the mere fact that you get to heaven and be in the presence of God, Glory to God for that. That if you have a pimple on the front of your face, look, that pimple is not going to be there, because it is going to be a glorified body, that if you have one foot shorter than the other, look, that is not going to be in heaven because his body is going to be a totally glorified one. As God intended.

That if we suffer here in this world, on this earth where we are, that if we suffer the loss of those beings that we love, that we love, that there are times when we even think "I would have wanted to be there in that person's position" to That person could continue to live. But that was not how God intended.

Did you know? One wonders: Lord, why? Why does this happen? I was asking you to take care of my family, I'm here, my family is there. I pray: "Lord, protect my family" constantly. In that aspect, I can identify very well with you Darwin and with the rest of the relatives there, I can identify myself. Constantly day after day I ask God for the protection and health of my parents, of my family there.

But at the same time I know that at some point I will receive news that I do not want to hear. And if that moment comes, I will suffer it, I will cry and I hope that my church is there to support me. But at the same time because I have this promise, because I have this hope, I know that it is an episode of life.

It is a chapter of life and the Lord is going to be with each one of us throughout those chapters on every page that is being written in our lives.

The Lord is there. The Lord is there to strengthen us, the Lord is there to pat our head and hold us to his chest and let us know, 'Look, everything is fine. Everything's fine. I am in control.

As Paul says, there are people who cannot enjoy that hope because they have not known that affinity with God, but you who are here can. That is what I see that makes the difference.

You are a family where the love of God is there well present. In you, family, there in Ecuador, the love of God is well present in your midst. And I know that you have felt it, you have experienced it, that the Lord is there in your midst and that is what strengthens you.

I encourage you, brothers, that in these episodes of life we do not ask ourselves so much why, but that we can receive that question that Jesus tells us: 'Do you believe this? Do you believe this that I am the resurrection, that I am the life?'

And that if you believe in me even if we die here in this life, but with everything and that, the eternal life that awaits us is much better. I believe that this can serve as strength and hope for all of us. Only if you believe it. I invite you to stand up and let's pray once more.

Thank you Lord Jesus. Thanks God. Thank my Lord. Thank you God, thank you Lord Jesus. Hallelujah.

I invite you, let's sing this hymn: 'How great is my God'.

At a moment like this when one manages to declare that praise before God, that God is great. Already in the midst of such difficult moments, the Lord is there with us. That is something that comforts the soul, that encourages the soul, that encourages the spirit, that gives us strength to carry on.

Thank you Lord Jesus.