Aug 08 – The Giver of Life!

“The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.” (1 Samuel 2:6)

In her song of praise, Hannah first exalted the beauty of the Lord’s holiness. Next, she magnified His divine wisdom. Third, she praised His life-giving power, declaring that the Lord is the Author of life, the One who gives life to all mankind.

Jesus Christ proclaimed: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26)

By His grace, God has given you life so that you may live in the land of the living. At Calvary, He willingly laid down His own life as a sacrifice for you. When you enter the kingdom of heaven, you will fully realize that He has also given you eternal life.

The Apostle John wrote: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) He also testified that Christ alone is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

When the son of the widow of Zarephath died, Elijah had unwavering confidence that the Lord is the One who gives life and raises the dead. Therefore he cried out to God: “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” (1 Kings 17:21) The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer. “Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.” (1 Kings 17:22)

Likewise, when the son of the Shunammite woman died, the prophet Elisha prayed earnestly to the Lord. The child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes, restored to life (2 Kings 4:35).

On one occasion, a man who came for prayer shared his burden: “I am only fifty-eight years old, but I feel extremely weak. I have been afflicted with every kind of illness in my body. Please pray that I may live at least until I turn sixty.” Wondering why he desired only two more years of life, I asked him to explain. He replied, “I simply want to complete my government service so that I can receive my retirement benefits.”

Consider this carefully. He did not say, “If the Lord grants me a longer life, I will serve Him faithfully and lead souls to Christ through the Gospel.” His chief concern was merely to complete his years of employment and receive his pension.

Dear children of God, your days are in the Lord’s hands. If you resolve to live for His glory, He will surely bless you with the fullness of life according to His perfect will. As the psalmist declares: “With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:16)

Verse for further meditation: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)