Bones

Read Ezekiel 37:1-14

I have a running joke that there is an 11th Commandment. It is “Thou shalt not creep Timbo out.” Of course, that’s bad theology, but I don’t like creepy things. I don’t watch horror movies or The Walking Dead, and I don’t care how “wonderful” the story line is. It’s creepy. I’m out!

Ezekiel’s vision from Ezekiel 37:1-14 definitely falls into the violation of the 11th Commandment camp. He has a vision of a valley full of skeletons; like Simba and Nala at the elephant graveyard in The Lion King Movie. Except, it’s people. Creepy! Oooh, Mufasa!

God had a point to make, however, and even if it was a nightmare for Ezekiel, it was a message of hope to a discouraged people. See, the people of Israel were in exile. They were far from home in a place called Babylon. Their disobedience had brought them there and they had been overrun by the Babylonian army and taken captive. They felt hopeless.

In the midst of this, Ezekiel was given the message of dry bones that developed flesh and skin (still, creepy), and ultimately were brought to full life. The message to Ezekiel was simple: I, the Lord, will bring you out of this exile and back to your home.

It is so easy to allow discouragement to set in. As we trust in the Lord, regardless of our circumstances or the chaos of the world, we must set our focus on eternity and stir up hope in the midst of the crazy.

Whatever pain we are experiencing, whether it is physical or emotional, it will not last forever. So, don’t you dare quit! Christ himself is our living hope. (jump over and read 1 Peter 1:3 right now for a hope shot in the arm).

Pain is certainly real, but it is not permanent. The things that last forever are found in Christ. As you pray right now, let the Spirit of God stir up hope within you and rise above the circumstances. Keep believing. Keep trusting. And have a Titus 2:13 day.

– Timbo Fowler