can these live?

It was people as far as the eye could see. Two huge armies overwhelm the landscape. Soon there would be a battle in Death Valley. The two warring armies are making preparations to face each other. Swords are sharpened, spears prepped, bows and arrows readied and shields repaired.
The war cry “prepare arms;” and the trumpets blast. Swords rattle, spears are strapped to backs, bows grabbed arrows are shoved in quivers and strapped to shoulders and shields strapped to arms. Lines drawn the march to battle begins.
The pounding of millions of feet marching to war, war cries pierce the air.
The clang of metal on metal the whiz of arrows and sounds of death fill the air. From morning to night fall the battle rages, corpses are strewn about.
It was a slaughter one entire army is massacred. Their corpses scavenged and tents ransacked. The conquorering army pillages their supplies its war to the winner goes the spoils.
Birds, animals, and insects alike eat the lifeless forms of the defeated army hundreds of thousands of dead bodies. In just a matter of weeks the bodies are stripped of flesh. In the following months the bones are chewed and sun bleached. If you came upon the scene you’d have no idea of who any of these people were.
Can dead people, completely destroyed people live again?
A few hundred years later a man prepares for the holy day. It is time for the national religious celebration. One of the high holy days of the year is upon them again and he being a good Jewish male will be at the temple. He has no choice now does he? It is his religious duty. A man must fulfill his religious duty his father used to tell him. You are what you do! Make sure you do your best. Be at every religious celebration and try to prove yourself worthy.
After finishing his early morning routine he makes the short/long walk to the temple. It isn’t that long it just feels long. A question bothers him. Is he worthy? He’s tried to be good. He’s done his best. But how good is good enough? Why does it seem something missing inside? To be honest it feels as though he’s dead on the inside even though he is strong and healthy. He’s doing his best. He’s tried to be worthy. He’s done his best. Is it good enough?
Could God bring life to a living dead person? If He can why hasn’t He yet?
A couple of thousand years later the alarm clock beeps. It’s the usual for the people of Tulare. Shower, shave for the guys, dress, grab a cup of coffee and off to work, school, the front porch… It’s routine. It’s life. Do what you have to do to make sure everything in life is taken care of. Have to pay the mortgage, car payment, do your homework get good grades, and prepare for life. You know how it is.
A question haunts many of the people of Tulare. Is this all there is? Isn’t life more than school, work, paying bills, making ends meet mostly and then maybe a few good years of retirement before we fall apart and die? What happens after we die? They push the thought out and get back to business as usual. Stick to the routine it keeps you from getting into trouble. You want to be in enough trouble to have fun, but not enough to be bad. Life seems empty most days an emptiness followed by multiple attempts to bury the emptiness.
Can God give life to the living dead? Will He give life to rebels like us?
The bones have dried out there is no sign of life in Death Valley. And then... Ezekiel 37:1-10
Can the dead live again? What if there is no sign of life in fact they are so dead you cannot even recall what they looked like? What if they are just bones and dried up wasted away bones at that? Can the dead live again?
He knows better than to doubt God, but these are dead dead people. Ezekiel plays it safe with “God you know.”
The Lord says prophesy. Speak My Words of life to the dead. Speak words of life to them. They have no ears. They are bones and although there are bones in the ear there are no ears. Can bones hear? Yet Ezekiel speaks God’s words of life to the dead. By the power of God’s Spirit He speaks.
The dried up dead bones of Death Valley grow back together. The rattling of bone to bone is inspiring. Then the sinews and muscles grow back. The organs and skin reconnect and now there is a valley full of corpses. It looks like the birds, animals and insects will be well fed. Before the thought can fully form that God’s word may have failed God speaks again. Ezekiel prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, thus says the Lord God, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”
Ezekiel filled with the Holy Spirit speaks to the breath and wind. The mighty army once dead is fully alive. Can the dead live again? The way things were is not how they’re supposed to be. Dead people are supposed to live!
Ezekiel 37:11-14
Back to our Jewish friend headed to the national religious celebration. The thoughts that bother him continue all the way to the temple. Can the living dead come to life? He makes his way up the steps into the temple. He’s doing what the Lord commanded. He has the best offering available. Prove you are worthy. Is he worthy?
He made his way into the temple with the mass of worshippers. Offerings are given chants are made. And the Scripture is revealed and read. “And there is no breath at all inside it. But the lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” God are you really here… Can the living dead live? “Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O Lord, revive Your wok in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” Are you here God? Will You make the living dead come alive? “God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power. Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.”
Suddenly there came a noise like a violent rushing wind, filling the house. The throng of worshippers hear the sound. Could God be restoring His shekiniah glory to Israel? They chase the sound and find the disciples. Filled with the Holy Spirit speaking the languages of the entire crowd in perfect dialect they speak of the mighty deeds of God. Some in the crowd say they’re drunk. Peter their spokesman moved to the front and spoke. His words like a knife cut to the heart. What must we do the crowd cried? Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The living dead trying to be worthy are confronted with their unworthiness. 120 people filled with the Holy Spirit spoke God’s words. The living dead are alive. 3,000 added to the number of saved. The spiritually dead are supposed to live. Can the living dead live? They’re racing around Tulare. Wondering is there more to this life? They’re rebels! Will God give life to rebels? Ephesians 2:1, 2.
Then you come along intersecting the life of these rebels. You are neighbor, husband, wife, mother, father, child, co-worker, schoolmate, friend. What will they find?
Ephesians 2:4-10
You were created and saved for this good work. Speak to the spiritually dead, and rebels the words of life. In the Power of His Holy Spirit speak. And watch the spiritually dead, and the rebel come to life. Speak His Words through His Spirit and watch them live.
Acts 1:8
Can the spiritually dead and living dead live? Will God give life to the rebel? Of course! He’s waiting to use you like He used Ezekiel, Peter and the one who shared with you. Will you speak His words to them?