DEADLINES INTO LIFELINES

READING: JOHN 11:38-44

Verse 43: “Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘lazarus, come forth!’”

April 15th, the date by which federal income taxes are to be filed, is a dominate American deadline. Even those who don’t owe taxes still must file a return by that date. There are countless other deadlines people are expected to meet. We have faced deadlines involving schoolwork assignments, and we are familiar with employment deadlines of many types and varieties. In the Army these required completion dates are known as “suspense dates”. However, the truth is that there is no suspense involved - they are unmistakable deadlines! Even in our families we must respect established completion expectations if there is to be order in our homes. We are constantly made aware that there are consequences when deadlines are not met. Even the name ”deadline” itself implies some pretty dire results. Regarding the Bible, we know it is scriptural history that the Lord Jesus missed the ultimate deadline. He arrived too late to save the life of His friend Lazarus.  However, even the usually final deadline of death itself was overcome by the power of the Lord. Jesus merely used three words to shatter and reverse this normally terminal condition. We can rejoice that the lordship of Jesus includes His superiority over all deadlines, even that of death. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What divine rescue from a deadline have you experienced or observed?

2. Is there a prophetic deadline that you associate with the last days before the return of the Lord?