Death is definitely not a subject that is high on our list of topics for discussion. It seems so contradictory to say, but the truth of the matter is, that, death is a part of life. Death is an unavoidable, inevitable experience. It is the last experience we encounter in the physical, natural realm. Though many people put much effort into trying to evade it, all of mankind - saint and sinner - will encounter that entity called death. Death is the ceasing of natural life on earth. It is when an individual’s allotted time here has expired, and they cease to exist in the natural realm of existence. *I will take that a little deeper in a few moments.
But though death is difficult for the living to handle, we understand from the Word of God that death does not necessarily mean hopelessness. It does not mean the end, as some would discuss it. We understand from Scripture that there are spiritual preparations that we can make to get us ready to face death, so we can face it with strength, confidence, and assurance as to our eternal destiny. You see, death is not the end of existence, but I would suggest to you this definition: Death is the door of transition from the natural, to the spiritual; from the temporal to the eternal.
Death is really not an exit, but an entrance - an entrance into eternity, which only holds two destinations: Heaven or Hell. And the time we have now is granted unto us so that we might have ample time to prepare ourselves for heaven. And we understand that the only way to do that is to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, to be plunged in the flow of His precious blood, for the cleansing of sin. And when such salvation is secured, we are made fit for God’s heaven, and thereby have entrance into the eternal habitation of God and His saints.
And we also know, that when a believer encounters the door of death, that his soul and/or spirit goes to be with the Lord - for Paul said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” - and that his body is left here on this earth, and ultimately is laid in the ground in a graveyard, or as I want to say it to you today: It is sown in the ground of a cemetery. And “sown” is exactly what the Bible itself describes it as. And to say that the body is “sown,” causes this subject to take on an entirely different aura and understanding.
Paul is discussing the matter here, and he incorporates the word “sown,” and gives us a word picture of the process that we call death. Of course, Paul was not the only one who did this. Jesus Himself, speaking of His impending death said in John 12:24, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abides alone; but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.” So perhaps Paul is even picking up with that allegory, and expounds upon it in 1 Corinthians 15, which is the resurrection chapter, one which expounds upon the ultimate victory of those in Christ Jesus.
And Paul discusses, in v.36, that what you sow does not live, except it dies. And he continues, saying, “That which you sow, you’re not sowing that body that shall be.” When we sow seeds in the ground, the nature of that seed is not the same as the nature of what will become of that seed. It is sown in one nature, and it raises up in another nature. Paul says in vs. 42-44 - “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” And then he concludes the chapter in a triumphant flurry of remarks (v. 51-57).
And if that were the only application of the text, that would be enough. However, there is another explicit application to the text that I want to discuss with you. Let me go back to the definition of death: Death is the ceasing of life in one realm, and the beginning of existence in another realm. And also, death is a door of transition; not an exit, but an entrance. With those thoughts I want to expound on something with you.
I want us to keep in the back of our minds the story of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. Because in that story we can find some great application. *I want to submit to you that death is not only the ceasing of life in the physical arena, but is also applicable to the other arenas of our existence. There can be Spiritual death, emotional death, and so on. And the term “death” can also apply to different entities in our life (womb).
The one I most want to talk with you about is about the possession of dreams. How many knows that dreams can die? Our hopes, our desires, our longings, the purposes or aspirations we take up in life can be quenched in an instant. As quickly, and as unexpected as a physical life can be lost, so also can dreams vanish. Life is sometimes cruel and unfair, and being a believer doesn’t exempt us from having the visions of our souls vanish away.
And I believe that in here today, there just may be some people with some certain aspirations, desires, dreams, visions, longings - that seems to have died. I have written a quote in my journal that says, “Keep dreams alive, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly.” And though I do believe that you have to keep faith alive, I have also come to know that sometimes dreams do die. Sometimes they cease to exist. Your expectations expire, your longings leave, your desires depart - your dreams die.
What about Mary and Martha? Their dream, desire, and longing was for their brother Lazarus, whom John 11 says, “was very sick,” to make a full recovery. They worked and waited and tended to him, only to see his condition deteriorate. They called for Jesus, only to have him delay His coming. And that delay determined to be detrimental - and Lazarus died. And when they carried Lazarus out to the graveyard, they did more than bury their brother. They buried their hope, their aspiration, their dream.
That’s why, when Jesus did show up, He tried to penetrate the hopeless mindset of Martha and Mary, and resurrect their faith. He said, “Thy brother shall rise again…For I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Believest thou this?” See, Martha had said, “Lord, if you would have been here…” Haven’t we said the same? Lord, if you would have moved… touched… been here…our dream would not have died. And it is as if Jesus is replying to that and saying: “I’m here now!”
And Jesus said, “Where have you laid him?” Jesus said, “Take me to the place where you gave up. Show me where you gave up hope, and stopped believing.” And they took a stroll out to a cemetery, where they had placed Lazarus in a grave - just like sowing a seed in the ground. You see, I believe in keeping dreams alive: But I also believe that sometimes dreams die. And sometimes you have to deposit your dreams into the ground of sovereignty, and say: If God wants it to live, He will have to raise it up. *Let me ask you: Where did you lay down your dream? Where did you lose your hope? Where did your aspiration exit your expectation?
You may say: “There’s no hope of my children being saved. No hope of my husband coming to Christ. No hope for healing. No hope for deliverance. I’ve tried all kinds of things, and it’s hopeless.” Whenever God does not move at a time suitable to our shallow faith, we tend to relinquish the intensity of our expectation. But as Jesus showed Martha and Mary, it is never too late for God to move. He is the resurrection and the life, and though your dreams may have died, when God does arrive, He shall raise up that which was buried to be fruitful, productive, and dynamic.
Listen: I believe today that God has walked us to the cemetery, where many dreams have been buried. And for some, you are in the cemetery getting ready for burial - you’ve almost given up. For weeks, you’ve been digging the grave, ready to call it quits on your dream. God has brought us right their today, to speak new life into our hearts.
I want you to notice one more thing as I close. In the story of Lazarus, he represents our dreams. But I want to make the observation that when Jesus arrived in Bethany, His first dealings was not with the DREAM, but with the DREAMERS - Mary and Martha. I believe that is what God is doing today. I want you to understand that I am not prophesying that your dream will come true. My purpose here today, in telling you that He is here, is to let you know that He wants to deal with the dreamers who have sown their seeds in a cemetery.
He wants to restore your faith, your hope, your belief, your expectation, your aspiration. That was the issue with these dreamers. He kept saying to them, “Do you believe me? Do you believe what I’m telling you?” You may have sown dream seeds in a cemetery, but let me give you the words of Jesus to Martha: “Said I not unto thee, that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” That’s what God wants to touch in your life today: Your faith. The ability to believe, even when you’ve sown dream seeds in a cemetery.
*While everyone stands, I want you to seriously look at your neighbor and tell them this: “You may have waited…and God didn’t come. You prayed…and it went unanswered. You got discouraged…and felt defeated. You may have sown…the seed of your dreams…in a cemetery. You have buried your dreams. You thought it was hopeless. And you found it hard to believe. But neighbor…NEIGHBOR…HE’S HERE NOW!”
Whatever concerns you concerns God. But His main concern is you. Not the dream, but the dreamer.
