Do You Believe This?

Steve Krogh

When I left the church one night, I nodded at a friend and said as I left the room, “See you later.” Little did he or I know, that “later” would mean in glory. A few hours later I received a phone call that he had passed away. In the inky darkness at 3:00 a.m., I stood in his home, hugging members of his family, whose lives would never be the same.

At times like that, one of the questions you ask is, “Do I believe what I say I believe?” When Martha’s brother, Lazarus, died, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26a). Perhaps you can quote those words from memory, but do you know what Jesus said next? He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26b).

Pretend that you are Martha, grieving for your brother. Or maybe you don’t need to pretend, you know what it is like. Jesus asks you, “Do you believe this?” Do you really believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and all who believe in him will live forever? Do you really believe that the grave is not the end? Do you really believe that as believers in Christ, even if we taste death, yet shall we live? Do you really believe that your “Lazarus,” be it husband, wife, brother, sister, son, daughter, friend, even if they die shall live?

There are many reasons I find it credible and rational to believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and has power over death. These reasons include the historicity of the New Testament documents, the testimony of eyewitnesses of the risen Christ (some of whom were martyred for their testimony), the specific and precise prophecies regarding the nature and timing of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection, which were recorded centuries before Jesus. Really, it is quite reasonable to believe that what Jesus told Martha is true: Jesus is the resurrection and the life and all who believe in him will live forever.

However, my aim is not to defend the resurrection and the life. My question is not “is it believable”, but do you believe it? If I really believe this, my life will be different in several ways.

1. My life will be different in the way I grieve. Believing that Jesus is the resurrection and the life does not mean that I don’t cry over the death of someone I love. It does not mean that my tears are absent; it means that my tears are different. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep (dead) that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) My tears speak of hurt. I mourn. I feel loss and pain. Death is an enemy. My tears also speak of hope. One day all tears will be wiped away. One day the dead in Christ will rise. One day we will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord. One day I will see my Savior along with those who loved him.

2. My life will be different in the way I give. Jim Elliot, the missionary speared to death in the jungle of Ecuador, wrote these words in his diary, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Believing that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, knowing that the grave is not the end, frees a person to be a giver. For Jim Elliot, the question was not all that difficult—will I hold on to things I will have to let loose of one day, or will I let them go so that I can take hold of things eternal?

3. My life will be different in the way I grow older. Recognizing that Jesus is the resurrection and the life means that we know he is the final arbiter. It is his appraisal that will last for eternity. We need not live in fear of others’ evaluation of us. We should not crave or live for the approval of men. Nor should we naively think our self-perceptions are without error. Paul said, Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5) Knowing that the resurrected Christ is the One before whom I will stand one day is both liberating and humbling. It liberates me from the tyranny of trying to please everyone. It liberates me from the gangrene of self-pity when I am wronged, slandered or misunderstood. It liberates me from bitterness when I suffer injustice. But, with this liberty comes the humility of knowing I will give an account to him who sees all things, including the motives of my heart. Paul said, I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:4)

Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life, asks you, “Do you believe this?” Hopefully, your life shows that you do.

From Topography: A Pastor’s Reflections on the Terrain Between Sundays, pp. 98-100. Used by permission of the author.