“He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign LORD, you alone know.’” (Ezekiel 37:2-3)

It is one of the stories from Scripture that many people know, even those who know very little about Scripture. It is the story of the dry bones found in the prophecy of Ezekiel. When Ezekiel was led to the valley, God asked, “can these bones live?” What a question! In our minds, a valley of dead, dry bones is not a place of life. Yet, Ezekiel obeyed God and watched the bones come together, flesh cover the bone and the breath of new life entered what had been dry bones.

The story reminds us that God is about bringing life to that which is dead. Paul, who had experience new life in Jesus Christ said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This life comes from the power to bring life from death, which was provided through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, . . .. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4;54-57)

When new life comes it brings us a sense of being revived. When we are revived, we are to live life with a new sense of purpose and direction. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b) Paul pictures this new life when he says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) Jesus gives us this new life, not just so we can go to heaven, but that we will learn to live in this new life – now!

Here is a taste of this new life as Paul sends encouragement to the church at Colosse. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-15) Walking with the Living and Written Word is about living the new life found in Jesus Christ.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block