Valentine’s Day was just over a week ago. All I wanted to do on this day of love was spend some quality time with Jesus, just to be in His presence. As I started my time with Him I wrote down all the attributes of God I could think of. I reflected on each part of His character and how I had seen that aspect of Him in my own life.
I kept coming back to His love though. Maybe since it was Valentine’s Day (subconsciously needing reassurance maybe…idk) I opened up the Word and skimmed a few different places but landed in John chapter 11. This chapter tells us about when Jesus’ close friend Lazarus is sick and ultimately dies. We can see from how Jesus reacts that Lazarus and his sisters are very dear to His heart. After I read through the scripture God reminded me of a clip I saw at church last summer. Now this wasn’t a sermon I saw, it just a recap video clip of a week my church dies for our youth called Gauntlet. I pulled out my computer and searched my churches site till I found that particular sermon where that short video clip was pulled from. My pastor, Clayton King spoke on …John chapter 11. He proceeded to bring a young man onto the stage to demonstrate how Lazarus was bound in grave clothes once he was raised from the dead.
These grave clothes still wrapped around Lazarus represent the bondage that we carry even after we have found life in Jesus. Yes we can hear Jesus call our names and walk out of the grave alive in Christ, but still wear a mask and carry chains of sin around with us.
After the demonstration was over the young man goes and sits back down and a few minutes later Clayton gives the invitational…he stops and says…”I want to bring attention I the miracle in the room” he said, “Lazarus has literally come to life before our eyes.” The young man who went on stage to play Lazarus in bondage heard the Lord call his name and walked into life in Christ.
This image has had such an impact on me. At the point of my salvation God called my name. He tells me to take off the grave clothes and walk in freedom. When we take off the mask we can see the path God has for us more clearly. When we take off the grave clothes and the chains that we are wearing and carrying around, our legs are freed up to walk where God leads and our hands are free to receive what God has.
Chapter 11:39-40 Jesus tells those around to move the stone from the grave door. Martha responding off of what she knew and could see told Jesus that he shouldn’t do that because Lazarus had been there for several days and would have …been stinky. Jesus says to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believes you would see the glory of God?” Jesus is almost pleading to her…trust me my child.
As I read through the scriptures God reminded me of my own grave clothes. Yes I have heard Jesus calling my name much like Lazarus did on that day. I rose from my grave and walked out into the light, but I still carry burdens. I still carry chains around just like Lazarus was. In that moment, God brought to my attention that I was still bound by some sin that I have struggled to let go of for years. Time and time again I have laid it down, but I will ultimately pick it back up.
Jesus whispered to my spirit just like he did to Martha, “trust Me my child.” He asked me if I trusted Him with my mess. Did I trust in His character that I had just written down on the pages of my journal? Did I trust that even when I pulled the curtain back on the sin in my life that He would still love me?
Will I allow God to see into the depths of my spirit? I am learning that when intimacy is my number one priority God will shake things up and not allow me to sit in a state of camplacicy. He wants growth, He wants surrender, He wants the chains to fall off!
In John 11, Jesus shows His love for us. He shares with us that He wants to bring us to life but He also cares about our hearts, our souls, our relationships, our chains, our burdens, and our wellbeing. You see it is not all about salvation. Yes it is the start of our relationship with Jesus, but salvation is just the ticket into the game. We must then seek intimacy with the Father in order to experience the full weight and purpose of our salvation. The foundation of intimacy starts with understanding the character of God. Above all else…God is love!
Understand that when you hear God calling your name it is His love for you urging you to walk out of your grave. It is His love that calls you to drop your chains and grave clothes. Embrace His love today! Draw near to Him and seek His face and accept the love that He is pouring out on you every second of everyday. Then let that love transform your heart and start dropping the chains and burdens that bind you!
-In Jesus name…Amen!
