Scripture

Our verse for today comes from John 11:26, “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Background

When my mom passed away in 2011, it was already a notable day. As the fourth birthday of my baby girl, that Thursday became inexpressibly unique when I found mom on the floor of our guest bedroom. She had breathed her last breath several hours earlier, as the rest of us in the house slept peacefully through the night. Actually, I was not the first to see mom that morning. After my just-turned four-year-old daughter and I came downstairs, I sent her in to her grandma’s room to wake her up to get ready for her birthday party. But after she took a couple of steps into her room, she came back to me in the kitchen and said, “Grandma’s asleep on the floor.” Instantly I knew something was very bad, and so I rushed my girl upstairs and went to find what I had feared was true. And there she was, my mom of forty-six years, tireless and strong, hard-working and ever-serving, finally lying still and resting. She had loved me and my family with her final days. The night before had been spent doing some last-minute shopping to get some ingredients for the desserts I had requested for Christmas, buying a final gift for my kids, and just being with my beloved wife. Like my Savior loved me in His last days. Loving, forgiving, dying. All for those He would call His children.

Application

You know, after I thought about the innocent words from my daughter, I realized that she had summed up the gospel in her brief sentence. For Jesus Himself said that if you live and believe in Him, you shall never die. So she was right. Mom’s body was just asleep on the bedroom floor, but in heaven, she was preparing for the best Christmas she would ever have. She wouldn’t be bothered anymore with shopping and looking for the sales, or giving and receiving gifts. She was in the very presence of the Gift Himself. He gave for me years before I was on this earth, treating Him as I do. He gave to me for forty-six years the mom that I loved and under-appreciated as I did. But if it bothered her then, it sure doesn’t bother her now. Being in the presence of Jesus has a way of doing that. So, do I believe what Jesus said about never dying? Yes, now more than ever.

Charge

As we seek Him today, make sure that you’re living what you’re believing. And make sure that your life is being lived and not anything less.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words