Cheating Death Together

     We all have seen people fight with such ferocity and determination they could of raised the dead! I was reminded of witnessing one of those fights, when it hit me. Humanity was created with the ability to defy death- Did Jesus not raise the dead? There is this latent death defying, death conquering, ferocious life power in everyone. Ferociously, compassionate Jesus defies death to it's face and putting things back the way they should be, back to life. God's compassion raised a ferocity to fight to bring humanity back to life.
     We are being made into the image and likeness of Christ. Our human ferocity and compassion comes from Jesus. "Jesus was more human than humanity. His was the most human face of all" (Beautiful Outlaw). Our disgust at un-timely death, desperate poverty and sickness is godly. Yes, God like. Human & God like in the very same breath. We are after all, made in his image and likeness.
     There is a roar in every soul . Something that cries so deep it sends ripples into the world around us. Like the ripples of a deafening scream, of a desperate soul willingly, diving headlong off a bridge; hitting the river water below with a cracking splash. I can see Jesus standing above calling and reaching his arms out to stop her; but, allowing free wills reign. His out stretched arms carry her home. We are all affected by each others ripples in the river of life. We are accountable to be aware of the substance of our life flow, for the sake of others that maybe drowned or lifted up by our wakes. As we are to be personally aware, we are to also be aware of others. God sent his son to earth; because, of this awareness of others. Jesus jumped into the middle of all this life & death; light & dark; good & evil to give a final happy ending for us! Jesus got involved with OTHERS. Jesus was no island unto himself. He choose to serve the widow by raising her son from the dead. We are to choose to be involved in the lives of those around us. To jump in and save people drowning in the waves of their own lives.
     As human beings living and breathing the same air, how can we not address defying death together? The world would call it "Cheating Death," as if we were playing poker game with the Grimm Reaper. We know Jesus didn't cheat death- He conquered death. He put death into its' proper place. Imagine Hell's hoards beat into submission by Jesus. Jesus was no puppy. He had the spirit of a protective, ferocious, guard dog. Jesus put death back in place and began the process of bringing the dead back to life!  Jesus cheated death on a regular basis. He saved the suicidal, raised the dead, healed deathly illnesses & then raised himself back from the dead. As much as, we are "dead in our trespasses and sins." We are "alive in Christ Jesus." Feelings of hopeless, darkness are part of the remains, of this death in humanity. We all experience parts of this death in our humanity. So, did Jesus before the cross. Did Jesus not weep & sweat blood in the garden out of the deep distress, of the task set before him? I think he must of had a normal aversion to pain too! Jesus was to face the embodiment of hopeless darkness- real death, cold and breathless- with a hoard of demons & Satan to greet him. How can we not see & rejoice, in the massive victory Jesus has obtained in defeating death! Death has been DEFEATED. Do not fear what has already been conquered. Face death with a confidence, guided by wisdom and discretion to not waste this life given to us. This life is so much richer now that we can live in the wake of Jesus. The ripples of our lives are affected by each other. Each others' darkness & light ripple into each other. As, each others' death & life ripple into each other.
      Let me try to put this into a more personal perspective. Licensed health care professionals are required by law to stop at car wrecks and offer assistance until an ambulance arrives. The State of Idaho states that I am legally accountable to help within my licensed ability anyone in immediate jeapordy: a car wreck on the road, a random person in a grocery store choking or passed out etc. I am to be aware of others in my sphere of life. I am to help them to the best of my ability at all times. If the State of Idaho keeps licensed health care workers accountable for the community around them; how much more will our Heavenly Father keep us Christians accountable for the community around us?What pressure and responsibility!
     I think the concept of being responsible and held accountable for the people in our sphere of life can be scary. It's INTENSE. So, we prefer to live as islands unto ourselves and not think about how our inaction or action can be affecting the people around us. Much less the fact, God holds us responsible for those in our lives! Facing death to help others is what God has called us to do. God has called us to be made into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus. Jesus faced death to help us- He calls us to face death in others & ourselves.
     We cannot really live life without conquering death.Why do you think some of the funnest craziest experiences have to do with facing life & death? For example: skydiving. SO MUCH FUN!!! Really, everyone should have skydiving on their Bucket List! You can't live in fear of death and actually live. I live with an edge of fearlessness of death; but, with a definite aversion to pain. They kind of balance each other out :)
      The roar in our soul that cries out in compassion and heart break is meant to raise the dead!  How do we stir-up this compassionate ferocity to fight against the powers of sin & death for our family, friends and strangers. We can't. The responsibility is too great. Our own ability to respond to sin-death in this world is too great. BUT. Jesus has taken on the responsibility to defeat death & sin for us. We must walk in his victory over death- not our victory over death- his victory. We cannot do it. We are responsible to point people towards Christ. We are responsible to speak-up for others, to compassionately guide them to Christs victory. We can't give others the victory over death. We are to point others to The Victor Over Death. Only Jesus has the power to defeat the sickly power of sin-death to set people free. Where do the hopeless find hope? Hopefully not in you; but, you can, out of compassion speak the truth in love without bitterness or superiority, in honest love to show them Jesus. Only from Jesus Christ pouring into our lives; can we pour Jesus out of our lives into others. Christ must first be poured into us until we are full of him. Like a cup is filled with water. We are to be filled with Jesus' victory over death. Being filled with his victory enables us to have victory over deaths minions: depression, guilt, bitterness, hopelessness ... Once we are filled with his victory we can pour the power of his victory out to others. Jesus poured out blood & water on the cross. The rippling drips of pooling blood and water beneath the cross have forever changed humanity. The rippling gush of his life giving water being poured onto humanity has offered a freedom from death that has no equal: eternal freedom and hope. Let's be filled with Jesus' life water; so, the ripples of our life water will be full of life and not death. Out of this fullness of life in Jesus we can possess the beauty of fierce compassion and honest love for the individuals in our communities. Then, we pour out Jesus in us, as an offering to God, onto others for Jesus' glory. As we pour out Jesus' life water, the water ripples as it hits the ground swirling and gushing into a person; causing more rippling waves, swirling into another person and another washing the death stains off of humanity.