Breathless

BREATHLESS

Sunday, September 01, 2002

Dear Family:

I wrote to you sometime ago about the "Breath of Life." The story is found in the 37^th chapter of Ezekiel. The prophet is in a valley full of dry bone. It brings to mind the 23rd Psalm, "Valley of the shadow of death." Try to imagine sitting on a beautiful hill overlooking a beautiful valley with green grass like a PGA golf course with a brook of clear water running through the middle. The banks are lined with lush trees and patches of colorful flowers here and there. Perhaps there is a ‘Rose of Sharon' and some ‘Lilies of the valley' adding splendor to this lovely setting. But amidst all this splendor and glory there are bones everywhere. The bones are detached from one another and scattered about the valley. Suddenly a voice thunders through the valley, "Son of man, can these bones live?" The first thought of logic is absolutely not. They are dead and they have been dead for years. They are dry, no sinew, no flesh, no hair, nothing. Not one sign of life has been here in years. The voice then said, "Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: (KJV)

There are several truths here that we need to see but before we look at them consider what the Old Testament is. I believe the Old Testament contains the history of God working with the Children of Israel throughout the ages. I also believe it is a picture of God working with mankind as mankind wanders through life and most importantly, I believe it is a pictorial image of the struggle of the Christian in his individual spiritual life. While the life and wanderings of the Children of Israel are interesting, I will leave that to the historian and I will concentrate on the spiritual aspect as it applies to me.

When we are born we are alive but only physically. At some point in time we are faced with the opportunity to come alive spiritually. We begin to struggle with two spiritual forces. The forces of good and evil, right and wrong, light or darkness, holy or unholy. All are at war for our allegiance. We can live for ourselves or we can choose to live in submission to one of the spiritual forces. Most of us initially choose to live for ourselves and swing to and fro by the influences of the two spiritual forces. Sometimes we are kind, gentle, loving, understanding and sympathetic to the woes of others while at other times it is only what is important to us and our desires that matter. The end always justifies the means, as long as I reach my goal of power, prestige and/or wealth. It is all about me and my needs, wants and desires. It is about who and what I want you to think I am. While this choice may bring some pleasing moments in life, it is sure to never bring about real lasting happiness, joy or peace. When we choose to live for self we have to be in control of everything and everybody. If people and circumstances around us are out of our control then anger, disappointment, frustration and even depression become our lot in life.

There is only one way to have real lasting happiness, joy or peace and it is not of our making. Our only part is the same as that of Ezekiel in this story; Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: (KJV). Ezekiel did not say, "Hear what I say or do what I tell you to do." No, he said "hear the word of the Lord." Our lot in life is to choose to live for God. This is why we were created. Does that mean everyone is supposed to be a preacher or prophet like Ezekiel? No! It means that at some point in each of our lives we must choose who will influence the course of our lives and who we will live our life for.

Ezek 37:7-14

7) So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

8) And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

9) Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

10) So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

11) Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

12) Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13) And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

14) And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. (KJV)

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