Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (John 11:25-26)
Read: 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25, John 11:1-54, Psalm 117:1-2, Proverbs 15:22-23
Relate: “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…”
“That’s bull.” Jason thought. But then, when the preacher stopped and those closest to him turned to look in his direction, he realized that he had done more than think it. So he said it a bit louder and more clearly. “That’s bull. Carlie believed and she still looks dead to me.”
“Jason I’m…”
“No preacher, keep your false sympathy and your empty platitudes to yourself. It’s all bull. Believing in Jesus didn’t raise Carlie up. It didn’t protect her. Believing in Jesus is what got her killed. If she wasn’t at that worship practice she wouldn’t have been walking home that night. Where was Jesus when that drunk driver ran that red light and hit her? Couldn’t he have protected her? Couldn’t he have sobered up that drunk? Couldn’t he have raised her up then? No. I was the black sheep, she was the angel. It should have been me but no. She’s dead. And Jesus wasn’t there. He never is.”
“Jason, there’s no way for…”
“Don’t preacher man. Don’t. Just… shut up.”
Jason turned and stormed away from the crowd gathered there at Carlie’s grave and made a beeline for his car. The soft weeping from his mom and a few others followed him for a bit as well as the preacher’s voice as he did his best to recover his sermon and continue on. It was a beautiful summer day but Jason saw none of it. It was all he could do to continue walking in a straight line as the tears streamed down his face and blurred his vision. Even once he got to his car it took him a few minutes to recover and gather himself up enough to be able to drive home.
He remained up in his room for the hour or so while everyone else went through the traditional graveside service and reception. Jason did text his dad when he first got home so that no one would come looking for him but then he just lay on his bed staring at the ceiling thinking of everything and nothing. He was still up there when the others came home. At some point someone knocked on his door but he blew them off with a grunt. Slowly the other guests and well wishers left and silence once took over the house. Still Jason lay on his bed, numb to the world. It was edging into the early hours of the morning when he finally got up to go use the bathroom.
On his way back he stopped in the hall in front of Carlie’s room. This room was off limits by threat of death when she was still alive but nothing stopped him from going in now that she was gone. One wall was almost completely covered in pictures and Jason stopped and studied each of these in turn. Some were new to him but many others brought back a trove of memories. There was far more life in these pictures than there had been in that shell of a body he had seen earlier. Slowly Jason drifted from one side of the collection to the other until he noticed an open Bible on her desk containing a short handwritten letter. He knew he shouldn’t do it even as he picked up the letter and began to read.
“Dear God, Here I am again, asking You for my brother, Jason. I know, I know, it seems like this is all I am ever coming to You about but You said to keep on asking and it will be given. So I’m asking again. God, what will it take? I’ve said everything I know to say. I know I’m not perfect but I have done my best to show him Your love. What will it take? What more can I do? You know that I would give anything to see my little brother come to know You. Even my life…”
Jason read no further as the letter slipped from his hands and drifted to the floor. He had to steady himself as a wave of grief threatened to overwhelm him. He picked that letter up and returned it to its place before closing her Bible and retreating from her room. He had to get out. He just had to go.
He was two blocks down the street before Jason even realized where he was headed. Three blocks further down and then a right. A short distance ahead he could see the corner of Cyprus and North streets where it had happened. He could see the intersection where Carlie had been killed. He could also see that he was not alone. There was a rock wall separating the sidewalk from the yard right near that corner and another man, in his late forties was sitting there at that corner. The man looked as if he hadn’t shaved in a week and there were dark bags under his blood shot eyes. It was the driver.
Jason was hesitant to get any closer but it was clear that this man had taken no notice of him. The poor guy was lost in his own grief and seemed to be idly playing with something in his lap. When Jason got a bit closer he saw that it was a six shooter. Part of him wished that the man would take that old colt, put it in his mouth and pull the trigger. But another part of him was afraid that this was exactly what the man was thinking of doing. Reluctantly, he walked up and sat down next to the man.
After a few minutes of silence Jason asked, “Can’t sleep.”
The guy next to him didn’t even look up. “Man, you have no idea.”
“I do. She was my sister.”
That pulled the guy up short. He looked over at Jason but then dropped his head again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He said over and over again as silent sobs heaved his entire body.
“She’s not dead.” Jason wasn’t sure exactly what he was saying but he just felt like he had to try and say something. As he sat next to the man, he realized that their places could easily have been switched. Jason was only seventeen but already he had been on the road once or twice with a few too many in him. This guy didn’t plan on killing someone when he was driving home that night. As his anger and bitterness began to wash away, Jason said it again, “She’s not dead. She is where she always wanted to be. If she could be here now I bet she would turn and say thank you. All you did was get her a ticket to heaven a lot quicker than she could have hoped.”
The words sounded a bit shallow in his own ears but apparently it was exactly what the man next to him needed to hear. For a while they sat there in silence but then the man flipped open the chamber and one by one the bullets dropped from the gun into his hand. When the gun was empty he reached over and handed those bullets to Jason. “Thank you” the man said in his gravelly voice as he got up and walked away.
React: After the other man left, Jason sat there a few more moments alone before getting up and starting home himself. He rolled two of those bullets in his hand as he aimlessly walked down the sidewalk. It slowly began to dawn on him that what he had said to that man, he actually believed. Those words that he had thrown back at that preacher might actually be true. Though she were dead, yet shall she live. Carlie was still alive. It wasn’t just a sentiment that she was alive in our memories. Somewhere, somehow, she had conquered death.
It took a while but eventually Jason ended back up on his own front porch. There was a swinging chair there and he sat on it looking out as the horizon to the east slowly began to brighten. He was tired of running. He was done. It was time to face the music.
Respond: “God” he prayed. “You’re real. I know it. I guess I’ve always known it even if I didn’t want to acknowledge it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for running from You. I don’t know why Carlie had to die. I don’t know why You had to let her go out like that but I do know where she is now. She might be dead to us but not to You. Carlie wrote you that letter. She said she was willing to die if that was what it took for me to come to You. if that is what this is all about then I don’t want her death to be for nothing. I want to know You like she knew You. When its my turn to die, I want to be where she is. I want to live again like I know she is living now. For whatever it’s worth, God, I’m Yours.”
Jason leaned back in his chair as the sun broke over the horizon and peace wrapped around him like a blanket.
THE RIVER WALK 
Wow! Now that my eyes are dry again, the story you tell is so very true. How God works is often hid from us because we cannot see beyond the circumstances of our life. Sometimes God takes someone out of their pain and not the pain out of them. His purpose in each of us we don’t aways understand. We just need to trust Him. Our life on earth is but a short time compared to spending eternity with Him.
Thank you BJ, hope you don´t mind that your story is forwarded on to the world. There´s just so many of us out there who need to hear what our God is like. Amazing how He works, we are touched to tears with a story like that and in that moment when we cannot see, the things of the Spirit start to take shape. Thanks for sending out these beams of light that illuminate and lift our eyes to our Savior.
All I have is a gift and I love to see it continue to be given beyond my reach.
My son died one year ago in a drunk driving incident. He is now in the presence if his Savior. And God continues to use his death to bring other to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Families of those killed in such incidents much learn to trust God and forgive. healing is only going to come when we do.
I am grateful that healing came quickly for me. I am grateful for the peace that comes only from God. I am grateful that I will see my son again.
This is so beautiful.
Thank you for this beautiful story. It is a poignant reminder of the hope we have in Christ. Blessings.
Amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Reblogged this on awriterfirst.
a well written story with so much truth in it …TFS
Powerful. I too felt the emotion of the young man’s angst and finally acceptance. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this piece. The anger I felt when I lost my Father, well I am just thankful that we have a forgiving God.
Awesome!!! You capture and accomplish so much with this short, powerful story!!!
Isn’t it fantastic how God communicates pure Truth to us? Very well written story.
Powerful. I am presuming it is “fiction,” but there is a great deal of truth in it.
Wonderful story with a lot of truth. Thanks for sharing it.
The truth will set us free.
Reblogged this on IN ALL OF GOD'S CREATION and commented:
This was such a beautiful, heartfelt story I had to reblog this to my site so others can understand the love of God through another Christian’s artistic view.
BJ, This was such a beautiful, heartfelt story–I had to reblog this to my site so others can understand the love of God through another Christian’s artistic view. Thank you for sharing this poignant story.
Thanks. It really touched me. Blessings.
That was brilliant! I cried.
I’ve stopped crying now. It is true. God is so unconditionally loving that we have complete free will to do exactly what it is that we want to do. Whether it be to pass on from this world or to forgive another in it. Free
will, free choice, at every moment of every day to make our decisions. God doesn’t force anyone to do anything.
hello there, thank you for checking out my blog. Keep on being inspirational
The prayer she prayed and left in her bible. I pray and grieve nightly for my lost family members. God is good and will answer my prayers.
Thank you for the blog.
Just read this entry of yours – amazing!! And wonderful…
Keep it up!
Very moving.
Your article is very well written. I was moved to tears. Thanks.
Pingback: John 11:25-26 (Never Die) | flamingdarts
Mt 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
Acts 26:8 “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?”
As we can see from the Scriptures, it’s something that is not hard to understand…we actually need help to misunderstand these verses…sadly, we’ve been getting a lot of help. I know people die…all the time…even Christians die. Why? Well, what are the usual answers? Most of the time we hear the “Lord Called em’ home” But is that what Scripture teaches? NO! Whenever something bad happens, God always gets the blame. He has gotten a bad rap on the subject of death.
But it wasn’t Him that failed- God did His part and told us to do ours. Sadly, most don’t obey and simply in faith lay hands and believe to see the dead raised. Once people are in the ground, it’s over till He(God) raise them. However, we have a mandate from on high to raise the dead! It did not cease with the disciples. We who follow Him, are His disciples…but, it’s clear from what Jesus spoke that it’s not God that missed it, but us who dare call ourselves followers and do not obey: Lk 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Thanks for letting me post
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15
That’s pretty sad when you take a verse out of context just to debate or encourage others in your own belief or explanation. You failed! I don’t recall Jesus ever saying that to those in need, or those who had died. It’s clear through His actions just where God stands on healing and life over death. To use Scripture to negate your obedience is paramount to evil…! If I were you, I’d repent. You cannot use one verse to cover a sound doctrine…this is why Christians fail….because they would rather put the responsibility on God instead of obeying Him and raising the dead, laying hands on the sick (james 5:14-15). Many a people would have surely died had it not been for the faith and obedience to God’s Word concerning those that would otherwise die. I digress. This conversation need not go any further as you are heck-bent on people dying…this is where the rubber meets the road, and where love is thrown out- Mt 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Take care BJ
This story touched my heart, BJ. Thank you for writing it. The mystery of ‘death’ is beyond us–but those of us who have faith know that it is only a portal through which we pass into another place–one where we can live reality with the clarity God intended. But the sense of loss for us who have to wait still is tough. I find myself ‘looking up’ more often these day.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today too! Glad to meet you.
Great blog pray it goes well
Thank you BJ for your continued encouragement, you will never know how much your posts mean to the people on my list, I get many emails expressing their faith being lifted by your posts. May God continue to use you mightily in the Kingdom. May He continue to anoint your fingers for writing.
God will act to restore peace permanently after rapture and resurrection in Jesus Name so no more death! The greatest comfort is to know loved ones are no longer in pain and suffering on earth. As much as we love them they are at peace rejoicing forever more with Christ, God, the saints and angels, what a privilege and honour! The circle will be complete in heaven as eventually all pass. So Christian believers mourn with hope and assurance despite enduring weeping joy comes in the morning! God bless you for amazing post!
This piece is unnervingly like events in our families’ life. And it gives hope that the unbelievers “left behind” really do think about spiritual things! Thanks for using your creative talent to teach God’s truth and offer His encouragement!
Enjoyed reading your post.
Beautiful story. Thank you for writing it. Blessings on your journey
Thank you for this story. May God continue to bless your ministry.
This is an incredibly touching story. Thank you for sharing it.
I can’t read this story before I go to work! My eyes would be all red and puffy from crying…
This is just so true and real. We all have had to go through this at one time or the other in our life. It may take different forms but it is the same attempt to run away from God.l
Heartwarming and reassuring.
This is a True Story not fiction…….My friend Elizabeth who was my Neighbor and when I first meet her was a very hurting woman, wanting to end her dysfunctional Marriage but instead Jesus rescued her and she became a Christian.
Three years later she shared with me that she had asked God if she had to die for her husband Stan to become a Christian please take her, 3 months later Stan became a Christian both are still alive 30 years later and they Love and serve the Lord.
God is not the Author of suffering or death and He does not willingly allow it, He tolerates it as He does all evil , it is not His will anyone Perishes either, He could stop all evil now but He is patient giving His children time to come to True heart repentance.
God works all things for good in our lives in the time allotted to us before we are born, yes He can extend life and like He did in the time of Noah, He will mercifully end life to end evil but He does not do evil to bring good out of it, the Bible tells us this is slander and it makes me righteously angry when man accuses Him of doing so, what they need to do is ask for God’s wisdom and His empowering so they will know His heart of Love for them and His good and Loving plans.
Lamentations 3:33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Christian Love in Christ Jesus – Anne
❤
It just knocks me out. What a powerful and inspirational post. I really like it.
Wow that was deep… Wow wow wow!!!! God carried one home… and gained another.
My post “My Mother’s Death: An Irrational Joy” ( http://mitchteemley.com/2014/11/24/my-mothers-death-an-irrational-joy/ ) reminds me of the points you make here!
Reblogged this on theperfectprescription2014.
God, by any name is a metaphor, encouraging us all to live a positive life and let others also achieve the same objective. Thank you for sharing such beautiful story. I couldn’t cry when my father passed away, was very young and confused about how to react to the situation, even when I was sitting close to his pyre on that winter evening at the time of his cremation. Even in the days to come while we followed all the rituals as per Hindu traditions of remembering him every day for the next 13 days, I never cried – rather I was having fun skipping the school, playing with my friends. On the 14th day it was time to end the mourning period and carry on with the regular life, I went to the bus stop to catch the school bus, there someone asked me why I missed the school for so many days. Then something hit me, I struggled very hard to get the word out of my mouth that I have lost my father. Tear started streaming down uncontrollably from my eyes and silently I kept weeping all the way to the school. There was a huge temple just next to our school, as our bus stopped and I looked at the temple, I felt the same kind of urge as Jason to shout at the Gods why they have taken my father away from me. That day I decided not to enter the temple or pray ever again. The resolve lasted about 18 years, it was broken by serious deterioration in my mother’s health and I had to carry on the family traditions that she was taking care of since my father passed away.
The faith and our personal belief system makes us what we are as a person.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful piece.
Warm Regards,
Bhuwan
I was deeply moved by this powerful post. I know that it will minister to countless others in the same way that it ministered to me.
Thanks again for the “like.” I am encouraged by your response.
Such a powerful and moving story, I hung on every word, wow. Thanks for sharing .
personally, I think your story was a wonderful way to teach others, to always look to God. We cannot blame God, it is not his fault anyone dies, it is just life and death. God doesn’t kill anyone “to make us believers”, Yeshuah died FOR us, it was HIS choice, just as the sister stated she would die for her brother. God didn’t even bring on the great flood to kill everyone, per se, He did it to wipe out Sin… sin that had filled the world…same with Sodom and Gomorrah! I got the message loud and clear, but I think your commenter moraldiplomat missed it completely. He decided to judge you and condemn you (a grave sin in of itself, as only GOD has the right to judge and condemn), and your attempt at reaching others, rather than
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Sometimes, as we grow in our faith, we tend to look down on others, as we are so very pure and correct and rarely commit sin. lol hope you heard the sarcasm that was filled with… 🙂
I hope this doesn’t sway you in any way from reaching out to others. For every lost soul, you must begin somewhere, and this was clearly a beginning for the young man, fiction or otherwise. To assume he would be able to raise the dead, when he clearly had little to no beliefs to speak of, was a bit out of sync with the story… and way too early on in his path to God. Yeshuah may have taught the disciples to raise the dead, but HE also Blessed them with the Holy Spirit to do so. In time, and with great faith, yes, I too believe we can raise the dead… but there are very few out there who have a great amount of pure.. unfailing faith. So please, continue on with your writing and teaching… as most of us know your heart is in the right place!! And THAT is what matters!! God Bless You!