Even Now

Even Now

Scripture: John 11:22; Luke 10:38-42; Psalm 23:4

Several weeks ago I was sitting on my father-in-law’s porch meditating and listening to music. At the time I was thinking all of the things those around us were dealing with and the fact that the stresses of life seemed to never end. People were dealing with financial issues, sickness and diseases and a host of other things we must deal with from time to time. All of us have experienced times when we have been praying for one thing or another and as soon as one prayer was answered another situation would arise that needed prayer. Have you ever had one of those days when it seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel and, if there was a light, it was flickering? Have you ever been in a place where you felt like you could not take on anything else and yet your phone kept ringing? Aren’t you glad we don’t have to live by our feelings? On that day when I was feeling low the Spirit told me “Even now I am working.” The title of my message this morning is “Even Now.”

There are times when it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders, especially when we do not know if a situation is going to work out. By all appearances it seems like a decision has been made and the results are in and they are not in our favor. These are the times when we can easily shift from faith to doubt, from hope to hopelessness. These are the times when we can feel like we have lost not only the battle, but the actual war. Maybe it’s a sickness or a job loss or trouble in the home. Maybe it’s because of the unexpected death of a loved one that has shaken us to our core. Whatever it is and whatever you are facing, I want to encourage you this morning that, even now, God is able to turn the situation around. Even now in the presence of the shadows of death He is not finished working!

Do you recall the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? Let me set the stage for you. The eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John opens with Lazarus of Bethany, being sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus that he was sick and requested that He come and heal His friend. Jesus delayed His coming because He knew Lazarus’ situation would be used for the glory of God. When Jesus finally arrives in the city, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus had arrived she immediately went to meet Him. Now I want you to hear what she says as recorded in John 11:21-22. “21. Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days, but Martha confessed that “even now” Jesus could raise Him from the dead. She could have come to Jesus and confessed everything she had done to take care of her brother, but she said, “even now.” She could have told Him about his lingering suffering and his last days, but what she said was, “even now.” I want to pause right here and take a look at Martha for a moment.

There is a story in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus went to Bethany and Martha welcomed Him into “her” home. This is what is recorded from that story in Luke 10:38-42. “38. Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ 41. But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42. but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’” Because of this story Martha gets a bad reputation. Women today are compared to Martha if they spend a lot of time doing things like serving in Church versus just being a part of the worship experience. People complain that these women are always busy doing something but they forget that sometimes it’s because it’s work that needs to be done and no one else is willing to do it.