Rom 4:17 reminds us that God is the One who ‘gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.‘ Jesus gave ample evidence of the first part of the verse in the miraculous healings He performed. On two occasions (Luke 7:14, Luke 8:53), He brought people back to life from the dead with a single word (‘arise’, ‘egeiro‘). In John’s Gospel, he also raised Lazarus from the dead, calling him forth from dead. (John 11:43) It is not surprising that the living Word should choose to use speech as the method by which resurrection would come. God spoke, we are told, and it came to be. (Ps 33:9)
Creation is an example of God calling into being things that were not. The Creation account in Genesis 1 repeatedly tells us that God spoke and things happened (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26) Hebrews 1 reminds us that God speaks in different ways and through different people but ultimately speaks through His final Word, Jesus. The story of Abraham is one of the most vivid accounts of God calling into being things that were not, giving Abraham and Sarah a son even though this was physically impossible, and then calling to Abraham and providing a substitute as he was about to raise the knife to that beloved child.
We are called to live by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7) and to allow God’s words to become foundational in our lives (Luke 6:46-49). This means surrendering our whole lives to God and holding on, in suffering and sorrow, in the darkness of the night, to His promises, secure in the fact that ‘the Giver of Life’ awakens hope and can bring even the dead to life. There is no situation we face that is beyond the mercy, love and power of God.
‘Though I have nothing, my life is an offering
I lay me down.
Steady my heart, Lord, in suffering and sorrow
I lay me down.
When lost in the shadows, remind me of Your promises
I’m holding onto the breaking of the dawn
When Your light shines through
I breathe in Your breath
My heart is at rest
You’re bringing the dead things to life
You turn the tables, I know You are able,
Your will be done
Give strength for today, would You guide my tomorrow?
Your will be done.
Out of the ruins, You’re making me whole
The Giver of Life is awakening hope
I lift my eyes to see Your faithfulness,
So take courage, my soul
Take courage, my soul.’ (‘Dead Things To Life,’ Ben Cantelon, Tom Read & Joel Wardle)
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