Believe and See

Years ago I was reading in John 11 when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. I put my Bible down to find a message that a friend battling a brain tumor had gone on to be with the Lord. When she passed, she was listening to “How Great is Our God.” That is so hard and so wonderful. 

I had talked to my friend days before and told her I was still praying for a miracle that would keep her here with us. Truly all of our lives are just a vapor, and we’ll be standing before the Lord soon. I just don’t want those I love going before I do. She said she couldn’t thank her Lord enough for saving her soul, and providing her entrance into His eternal Kingdom. She wanted everyone she knew to know it, too, so they would be there with her.

Salvation in Christ is everything. When Jesus proclaimed Himself the only way to the Father, He wasn’t being intolerant. He wasn’t speaking in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God. He was loving us enough to let us know the truth, and the way to be with Him for all eternity. 

Just before Jesus called Lazarus to come forth, He told Martha in John 11:40,

“Did I not tell you

that if you believed

you would see the glory of God?”

Through tears of grief and praying for her family, I rejoiced that because she believed, my friend was seeing the glory of God. Lord, thank You for all our friends and loved ones who are seeing, because they believed in Christ. Please open the eyes of those who have not yet believed, so that by the work of the Holy Spirit they, too, will believe and see.