Quote from Forum Archives on March 21, 2003, 3:11 am

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
(Over 8,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

03.20.03

Life Goes On

"But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped
down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one
at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Then they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them,
'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have
laid Him.' Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus
standing there.." - John 20:11-14a.

"Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and
that He had spoken these things to her." - John 20:18.

USA Today reports that "Life Goes On In The USA." Apparently life also goes
on in Iraq. Ordinary people still go about their lives coping with the
normal challenges of living life each day. Even in the midst of war people
are still people. Some on both sides fear for the safety of loved ones who
will be fighting in the battle. Some on both sides wonder how they will go
on if something does happen to their loved ones. But life will continue to
go on.

This is a war unlike any other in our ability to see live photos. From
those photos, and videos we see vehicles moving across the desert. We can
also see that vehicles are moving around in Baghdad and even see people
walking on the roadways. The people in Baghdad have fear from the
possibility of bombs and missiles raining down upon them from above. But
still they must continue to live life. In the USA there is a fear of
terrorism and the possibility of bombings, chemical, biological or even some
form of nuclear attack. But still we must continue to live life because
life goes on.

Even when terrible things are happening or have the potential of happening
life requires for the most part taking care of some things. Except for some
unusual periods we must continue to eat and drink. We must at some point
continue to sleep at least for some period of time. There are the mundane
requirements of making a living and the necessity of a job or someway to
have an income. The income is necessary for most of us to be able to pay
the bills and have the at least the necessities for life. Life goes on.

After the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ life was still going on.
Funeral arrangements had to be made along with preparation of the body for
burial. Some of the disciples returned to making a living being the
fishermen that they had been most of their lives before being called by
Jesus to follow Him. How did the followers of Jesus break out of the
depression and defeat they were experiencing to really live life? Life was
going on for them but they were just going through the motions they were not
really living life. The difference came when they realized and truly
comprehended that life did not just go on in the physical existence that
they could see and feel in this world. The difference came when they
realized that life really did go on - life would go on eternally. When
Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection their lives changed forever.

The words of Jesus now had new meaning as they remembered and realized the
truth of what He had said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My
word and believes in Him, who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not
come into judgment but has passed from death into life (John 5:24)." It is
time for us too to hear, really hear the words of Jesus. Life does go on.
Let us realize and comprehend that life goes on eternally and that life
begins and should be lived starting here on this earth no matter what may be
happening around us.

Copyright © 2003. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited.

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