When is the end not the end?
When God says it’s not.
Death is the ultimate finality in our human experience. We do not have power over death. We have the ability through medical science to revive a person to a point, however, we cannot give life or reignite a spark of life that has gone. This is when we face the harsh finality of death and the hard impasse of our limitations.
In today’s Scripture passage, Dorcas’ friends accepted the finality of her death. Peter did not. After expelling those who did not believe, he prayed. She got up. The end was not the end.
In our lives, circumstances can be as final as death. There are times when there is no way to move forward; the impasse is final. What then? My question above: When is the end not the end? The answer above: When God says it’s not.
“When God says it’s not.” is not meant to be trite. It is a true statement. God can do what is for us impossible. He can change situations that are for us unchangeable.
Why do we not see more interventions of God in “impossible” situations? One reason is that we really do not believe it will happen. Most Believers today would not dare to expect God to raise someone from death.
I have another question: WHY NOT?
Why not dare to believe God will intervene? Why not expect God to do what He has done before? Why not believe He will answer our prayers? We dare not because we have been taught to not dare, taught that “That was for then.”, or we are afraid it will not happen.
Where does it say in Scripture that God does not answer such prayers today? I cannot find it.
- I CAN find where it says He is unchanging–the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
- I CAN find where Jesus says that we will do greater things than He did when He was here. (John 14:12)
- I CAN find that all things are possible to the one who believes. (Matthew 19:26)
I said all this to stretch you a bit–to challenge you. Perhaps I am being a bit of a protagonist today. I am: I am challenging you to think differently.
I encourage you to move your boundaries and limits out further. Be open to the possibility that the end is not the end when God says it is not the end. To do this, you must first believe that it can be so. This, therefore, is the beginning point of your challenge.
I am not suggesting you raise the dead as your first effort. Push your limits with something that fits your faith. Begin with believing that God CAN do something you might otherwise consider final.
There are times when God DOES say it is the end. In those cases, we must accept it. Until He does, however, I believe there is a window of opportunity where faith and His intervention can make a difference in an otherwise final situation.
Seek that window in your life. Dare to believe God can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). For today, as a beginning place, just accept the possibility that the end may not be the end. You can do that.
Today’s Seed™ Scripture and Prayer for Jan. 30, 2023:
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. (Acts 9:39-40 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, what is impossible can become possible with You. Tragedy can become opportunity and loss can become gain. Regardless of what happens in my life, help me look beyond the finality of the circumstances to the possibilities You can bring to be through faith. Help me remove the limitations in my mind that keep me from believing You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(c) 2023 Randall Vaughn • All Rights Reserved • http://www.e-min.org
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“Today’s Seed” from E-MIN • Jan. 30, 2023
With over 40 years in ministry as a pastor, author, worship leader, and songwriter, Randall pioneered E-MIN in 1997, one of the earliest online Christian ministries, the first to utilize the Internet as a native media for ministry, and today the longest continuously operating.
His passion is leading people to deeper, genuine relationship with God. He resides in Alabama with his lovely wife, Karen, two incredible dogs, Hadi and Casi, and enjoys hiking and “prayer walks”.
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