The Living Dead
How long have you been a believer? Has it been ten years? Twenty? Five? When you weren't a believer, did you think about walking around as "dead?"
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1, And you were dead in your trespasses and sins. When you were not a believer, did you ever consider this? I know that I didn't. I think there are people doing everyday things who are dead!
Not Expired
No, unless you believe in ghosts or zombies, these non-believers are still breathing in and breathing out. They still do things that live people do. So "dead" in Paul's context must not mean expired or extinguished. It means that they are separated from God. The problem with their separation is that it will lead to a second death, Revelation 20:14.
Remember the Garden
When Adam and Eve were created, they were placed in a beautiful, botanical garden. They were perfect! Their environment was perfect, and they would live here in perfection--raise perfect kids--forever. With one exception! They were given a choice, eat the fruit or remain perfect forever. You know what they did; they ate the fruit.
As soon as they ate the forbidden fruit, they knew they weren't the same. They realized they were separated from God. What did they do? 1. they covered their nakedness; 2. they hid from God. The two perfect people realized immediately that they were dead; yet, they still breathed in and breathed out. They hadn't physically expired.
State of the World
That's the state you were in before you decided to become a believer. Since Adam and Eve, each person who has come into the world is separated from God. Today it is estimated that only 12% of the world's population claim to be believers, there are billions of people walking about dead--separated from God.
Can I tell you that is a bunch of dead people! Have you thought about your responsibility for them. Jesus commanded that you go into all the world and tell others about him (Matthew 28:18). No, you don't need to become a missionary to another country. Just minister to those you meet everyday in your world.
When you became a believer, you became reconciled to God (1 Corinthians 5:17-19). Reconcile is a great word that means "changed mutually" or changed like Jesus. That's what happened to you and me when we accepted the Lord as Savior. He changed a worthless, dead entity to something special. However, he didn't stop there. Christ gave you the ministry of reconciliation, i.e. to give those around you a chance to become like Jesus--alive, no longer separated from God.
His Workmanship
Paul also says in Ephesians 2:10 that after you became alive in Jesus, you became God's workmanship.
A neat word that could be translated, masterpiece. You became His one-of-a-kind, no one else like you, special because of His love, no longer separated or dead. No one else in the world has your fingerprints or DNA. You are absolutely special to Him.
Is it time for you to tell others around you just how special you are. Can you share your story with someone else. You can offer them the gift of reconciliation without them even knowing it. You simply tell someone your story. Where you were, separated, to where you are now, a masterpiece. You have a reserved seat with Jesus in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
Free Bible Studies
Blessings,
Howard
Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.
