Category Archives: Morning Thoughts

Philip Conley's Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (John 11:25-26 – “The Truth About Death”)

Morning Thoughts,

“The Truth About Death”

John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

This morning, there are many things that people fear, and death is one of the top contenders. Over the years, I have heard that people fear public speaking more than death – as a general rule. As one that has to speak publicly quite a bit as a minister, I find it remarkable that people would generally rather die than have to do what I do. Regardless, death is greatly feared. There are few subjects that have been philosophized about as much as death. Men of learning and some measure of knowledge have wondered and tried to figure out what happens at death, after death, and all the connection points between this fragile thing we call life and the great unknown beyond it. Job of old (probably the oldest book of the Bible) even asked the question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14a) At my secular employment, I get asked questions surrounding it on a regular basis. Yet, it seems to my observation that more energy has been put into trying to figure out what God has already plainly declared. After all, Job answered his own question when he said, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” (Job 14:14b)

The scene surrounding our study verses is focused on Jesus’ interaction with a family of Bethany that had lost a family member due to death. Mary and Martha recently lost their brother Lazarus, and when Jesus arrives with His disciples, He converses with both sisters before heading to the tomb to raise Lazarus back to life. Our study verses are in the midst of His conversation with Martha. In these thoughts we see what might seem at first blush to be a contradiction of thought. However, when placing these verses next to other passages of the Bible, they harmonize quite well with what the Bible plainly declares about life, death, and everything that follows. Notice the seeming clash of thought: 1. If someone believeth in Him, they will live though they have died, 2. If someone believeth in Him, they will never die. In side by side notation, they appear at odds with each other. But, as we have tried to stress many times over the years, problematic situations in Scripture comes from our problematic minds not the text itself. Our minds are frail and faulty, whereas the word is pristine and sublime.

To answer the critic’s charges while also probing one of the most discussed and philosophized concepts in history, we will see the great power of God’s deliverance while also strengthening our grip on fervent and assured service in the here and now. Man is composed of 3 parts: body, soul, and spirit, and two of these parts are unseen while the body is the portion that is visible to the naked eye. This writing, nor any other writing of man, can delineate what exactly the division of the soul and spirit is. Only Jesus can do such a thing (Hebrews 4:12), but Scripture affirms that man is composed of these 3 parts. (I Thessalonians 5:23) So, when Jesus makes a statement about never dying and also says that death shall be followed by the resurrection, we can clearly see the answer to the critic’s problem with the portion of man’s composition under consideration.

Scripture teaches that the internal, unseen parts of man do not die. The spirit goes back to God that gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7b), and the soul departs at the moment of death. (Genesis 35:18) The body, on the other hand, does lay down in death and go back to corruption. (Ecclesiastes 12:7a) So, from these places – among others – Jesus’ statement about never dying refers to the unseen parts of man, while the resurrection happens for the body that we see. One of the problems that man has in his postulating and philosophizing about death and things beyond it is the fact that he is thinking only in terms of things that we can see. To the natural sight, death is a reality with finality to it. We cannot see beyond that separation by natural ability, and to truly appreciate and cling to the things beyond this life, the sight of faith’s eye is required.

One of the things that I did not realize growing up is how different my perspective on death and the things surrounding it was from most of my peers. Most of my peers were unfamiliar with funerals, and they did not think about death much due to their youth. As a minister’s son, I went to many funerals and saw all the associated things with it such as grief, mourning, and comfort. Only after I was grown and began to understand how different my perspective was did I come to appreciate how treasured the situation of joyful hope and strong trust and belief in these things really is. Jesus strongly makes the point that there is a high premium on belief in these situations. Now, to be clear, belief is not what makes these things so. Belief never changes reality. Belief is simply an admission of what is reality. If I believe the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, my belief does not make it so. My belief is simply an admission of what is reality based on the evidence at hand. The reason death, things surrounding it, and the situation beyond it is so hard to grasp is because man does not see tangible evidence at hand to rely upon.

Friends, one of the things I prize about my growing up time is that I was surrounded at those funerals and times of natural sorrow by people that knew the truth about death and freely talked about it during those seasons. Churchgoers react to death and funerals very differently from those in the world. Even Martha in her interaction with Christ was able to cling to the idea of the resurrection while mourning the loss of her brother Lazarus. Paul encourages us in I Thessalonians 4 not to sorrow as others “which have no hope.” There are people in this world that literally have no hope or expectation of anything beyond this life. Such a mindset makes us of all men most miserable. (I Corinthians 15:19) These surroundings for me in my formative years staved off many of the fears and doubts I may have enjoined about death had I not had such grounded people around me all the time. It is my intent with my young children now that they have a similar situation. When they are full grown and facing the world themselves, my desire is that they have a good grasp about death without living in fear of it.

To the believer, there is an assuredness when the loss of death occurs that this is not the end. Job of old knew it was not the end, and I rejoice today in knowing that all of my friends and loved ones that we have buried over the years will be raised back to life one day. As I approach death in the future, I can do so with the joy and expectation that this body that is about to lay down with a final gasp will one day be raised in power and fashioned like unto His glorious body. (Philippians 3:21) This belief and trust allows us to have joy in the midst of sorrow and hope in the midst of suffering. Jesus’ words should still ring and strike chords today that there is something beyond this vale that is glorious and majestic.

Taking it a step further, the believer today can rejoice in knowing that though the dead body of a loved one is being laid beneath the sod of this earth, the conscious aspect of them in soul and spirit is at that moment basking in the glorious presence of the Almighty. (II Corinthians 5:6-8) As soon as the eyes of the body close in death, the soul and spirit arrive in glory to rejoice and shout at the Saviour’s feet until the moment of reunion with their glorified body. When I think of those that have gone before me through that portal, I sometimes get a little envious. They are free of all the shackles that weigh us down daily. Oftentimes when I meet people at work in the morning, I will say, “How are you doing?” getting the response, “It’s another good day, because I’m above ground and this side of dirt.” While I understand the natural sentiment, the better day for our situation comes when the body is ready to go to the other side of the dirt. When that situation comes, we will see Him whom our soul loves and rejoice in glory surrounded by majesty.

From time to time, I ask a question in preaching, “What would you give for what you are blessed know about Jesus and all that He has done? How much is it worth?” Belief and trust in the Master is priceless, and the subject of death is a prime example of it. Though we mourn the loss of fellowship when others pass from this life, the knowledge that we have gives relief that nothing else can. I cannot imagine trying to live life without the steadfast belief in the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul. This should be so prized by us that we heed Paul’s concluding exhortation about this knowledge to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding the work of the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:58) Jesus would go on from these statements to raise Lazarus back to life showing His power over death. One day, He is going to raise all of the sleeping dust of men’s bodies and actually kill death itself by doing so. Death will have no more dominion. But, Lazarus still had 4 good days in soul and spirit basking in the beauty of heaven. Our trust and belief cannot rest in things we see but in the things that we cannot see. If we cling to these things, we can face our own death and of those we love with the resolution that we have not ended the story but just been parted for a while. The story continues. There is much more to come and left to see beyond this life, and if we believe these things, let us rejoice in life knowing these things. Jesus asked Martha if she believed. Do we? If we do, then let us show that in our love and devotion to Him who has so delivered us from the power of death.

In Hope,
Bro Philip

Philip Conley's Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Isaiah 38:5 – “Prayer and Unintended Consequences”)

Morning Thoughts,

“Prayer and Unintended Consequences”

Isaiah 38:5, “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.”

This morning, cynicism is one of the pervading marks of our culture. People have become so negative that many things that produce positive outcomes are seen as unbeneficial. How many people today pray in faith expecting that their prayer will be heard and answered? Paul made it very clear that prayer helps. (II Corinthians 1:11) James pointed us to a poignant example to show how effectual prayer can avail. (James 5:16-18) Yet, prayer can be rote, faithless, and duty driven if we are not careful. To the faithful Christian soldier, prayer is a powerful weapon that should be seen as a mighty application. In my youth, I heard a minister make a powerful example about prayer. “What if this country was invaded and instead of using the great arsenal of weapons at our disposal, soldiers were on the beach with bows and arrows? That makes as much sense as a disciple forgoing prayer for wishing or undervaluing prayer to not use it to its fullest effect.”

In our study verse, we see one of the most striking answers to prayer recorded for us in Scripture. Hezekiah was one of the most righteous kings that Judah ever had, and his prayer touches the God of heaven to add to his life here on earth. God had sent word that Hezekiah’s sickness was to death, and due to this man’s prayer, God mercifully added 15 years to his life and recovered him of the sickness. Considering the effect that this man’s prayer had on the Almighty, we should be strengthened and emboldened in our prayer life to consider that He who needs nothing is still touched and compassionate to our struggles and trials. However, I fear that even when focused on this great truth of God’s mercy, I have sold God’s mercy short in this regard. His mercy is far beyond my comprehension, and when I learn more about it, it fills me with awe and wonder.

Looking at just the surface of the matter, we see how great God’s mercy is to this man just in the length of days that were added. Hezekiah began ruling at the age of 25 and reigned for 29 years. Considering that 15 years were added, God gave him slightly more than double the time to reign than he would have had. His rule would have lasted only 14 years should he not have prayed and God answered his prayer. What a great mercy to give this righteous man so much more than he would have had. Yet, God’s mercy is far more than just this surface view of the time itself. God can and does see what is coming down the road in perfection. God knew what was going to happen in the future, and even knowing this, He was merciful anyway. Let us consider what Hezekiah did not know when praying this prayer that God knew, and God blessed him anyway.

In the next chapter, we see one of the few times that Hezekiah stumbled mightily in his rule. He is hospitable to the ambassadors from Babylon and shows them the breadth of his kingdom. This foreigners should not have had access to certain parts of his kingdom. Certainly the temple was one place that they were not allowed, yet there was nothing in his kingdom that he showed them not. Isaiah rebukes Hezekiah for his actions and foretells the captivity by the very nation that he showed such hospitality to. Yet, God’s mercy was still on display by not bringing this judgment and destruction in Hezekiah’s time. Simple question. Had Hezekiah died in chapter 38, would this transgression by him have taken place in chapter 39? The answer is obvious, and yet God added to his life knowing full well that he would stumble shortly thereafter.

Another unintended consequence of this answered prayer was something that happened after Hezekiah did pass away. After his death, his son takes the throne. His son is a wicked king by the name of Manasseh. Not only was Manasseh one of the most wicked kings that Judah ever saw, he had the longest reign of any king (55 years). So, his wickedness plagued the land for decades. Interestingly, Manasseh was only 12 years old when his reign began. That means that during Hezekiah’s sickness and answered prayer in our study verse he was not born yet. Again, had Hezekiah died, this wicked man would not have lived and distressed the land for the prolonged time that he did. God knew all of this perfectly when answering Hezekiah’s prayer, and He blessed him anyway.

Considering these unforeseen and unintended consequences, God is more merciful than we can comprehend. There are many times as a father that I will forego giving my children things that I know will be bad for them. God surely does this too, as James tells us God does not give us things when we intend to consume them upon our lusts. (James 4:3) However, there are certain things that my children may ask for that I can see what it will do later down the road when they cannot. If I think the path down the road from the request may turn out bad, I may deny them even though they have not thought about it. God knows what everything will bring about down the road. He knew that lengthening Hezekiah’s days would put him in position to stumble like he did and also bring a child into the world that would rule contrary to His law. Knowing this, God still honored this man’s request for the uprightness of His heart and the compassion He had for Him.

At this point, the kind reader may wonder, “Does this mean something for me today?” Surely it does, as we are much like Hezekiah. Though we may not have had a sickness to death that we recovered from, all of us – I believe – can look back over the course of our lives and see where the Lord spared us from death and destruction. The fact that we have life today is a testimony to the Lord’s daily grace that has allowed us to continue to this day. (Acts 26:22) When I look back over my existence, there are countless times that I should have been dead long before today. It is my firm belief that others prayed for me even when I was too thoughtless and stubborn to pray for myself. My parents prayed daily for me, and my dear companion prays daily for me. These prayers help brethren. Of that, I have no doubt, for Scripture teaches it and experience bears it out.

However, looking back on my life from the time forward from those deliverances, I have failed and stumbled time and time again. The wrong words have been spoken; the wrong steps have been taken. Time and time again, I have come short of what God requires and deserves from the walk of one of His ministers and disciples. So many times I sing the words of the old songwriter, “Much of my time has run to waste, and I perhaps am near my home. But He forgives my follies past and gives me strength for days to come.” What if God had not answered Hezekiah’s prayer the way He did or answered the prayers of my loved ones the way He did? Hezekiah would have died, and I would have too. Those great evils in his life would not have occurred, and my list of sins would be shorter than it is now. Yet, God heard, answered, and blessed in spite of what was coming in the future.

Beloved, when I consider this Great One that we serve, it astounds me that His mind and heart operate in the harmonious fashion that they do. If we knew through perfect foresight how someone was going to mistreat us and go in utter rebellion at times from our fellowship, would we have the heart to deal compassionately with them? Consider one relationship that you have lost over your life. If you could travel back in time to when things were “happier” with that person, would it be hard to treat them like you did then knowing what you know now? Surely it would. Yet, God knows all these things and deals with the kind grace and tender mercy in the ways that He does. Whenever we pray to Him in an honest spirit with a contrite heart, He blesses time and time again. When He spares our lives daily and even prolongs our existence from things that should have naturally killed us, He does so in love and great mercy. Though we fail time and time again, let us go forward in greater zeal to the mercy that we have seen and experienced and try mightily to limit these negative consequences that are a reproach to Him. If you are reading this, then you are still living here, and still living here is a testament to God’s hand preserving your life. Let us take the days that we have to honour Him and bring glory to His compassion and power that has so blessed us.

In Hope,
Bro Philip