Remember

“The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, which flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.” [1]

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments…” [2]

“[Lest], when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God...” [3]

“Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’” [4]

“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” [5]

Remember! Sometimes it takes something drastic to jar our memories. We become so focused on the here and now that we forget the there and later. Remember, the Lord is bringing us to a land better than the land of Israel. He is bringing us to an eternity with Him in paradise.

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he [Lazarus their brother] was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” [6]

Lazarus died during that two-day delay, but Scripture tells us that Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary. Jesus had a plan. He was going to reveal His great love for these two sisters by not healing their brother when he was sick. His plan was to heal Lazarus after he was dead.

“Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.” [7]

Jesus told His disciples that He was glad for their sakes that He was not present when Lazarus died. He had a plan. His plan was to raise Lazarus from the dead to boost their faith in Him.

During this season when bad reports flow like a mighty river, let us remember the Lord. He is bringing us to better place. This world is not where it all ends. There is still more life to come, and it is a better life when we believe in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “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.” [8]

[1] Deuteronomy 8:7-8
[2] Deuteronomy 8:11
[3] Deuteronomy 8:14
[4] Deuteronomy 8:18
[5] John 11:5-6
[6] John 11:14-15
[7] John 11:25-26