Our 'Even now' God

“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." John 11:22.

She was a great sister and loved her brother Lazarus. As soon as he began to decline she and her sister Mary sent word to their teacher and friend, Jesus. They were a team of 4, their house being home base for Jesus whenever He was in the region. They had laughed together, dined together and watched Him perform miracle upon miracle. They knew of His power and the love He carried in His heart for their family. So, I imagine there was no doubt when they sent for Jesus to come and heal their brother. They had watched Him perform so many miracles, and in their mind, it was a given that He would save their loved one from death. Jesus received the message and His action was one that would shatter any heart. He waited two more days before going, and in that time Lazarus breathed his final breath. They extinguished the lamp that lay beside his bed, they pulled the door closed, and began the gut-wrenching duties of preparing for a funeral. The death was heart-breaking enough, but it was compounded with the realization that Jesus was able...but not willing.

What do we do with that? My sisters have walked this out as we watched our sister in the final days. We sent for Jesus, and it also seemed like He delayed. We were fully aware that He was able…but not willing. As scorched tears streamed down our faces, with hearts broken this had to be reconciled just like Martha and Mary. But never did my faith look up at God, as Beth laid lifeless and say, ‘But I know that even now…’ It never dawned on me to ask for God to raise her from the dead. But what I realized 2 short weeks later was that Jesus did not tarry…He did not delay. What He was able to do, He did! He just raised her on the other side. He took her wearied, sick body and healed it to complete perfection. Even then, He was answering our prayers…even then she was being touched by the hand of God…even then He was preparing a beautiful place for her to live out eternity…even then…

As I think about our ‘even then God’ I’m so encouraged that He never changes, and He is our ‘even now God.’ Even now He is that same God who calls us to come out of our graves. Even now He is arranging hearts to collide, jobs to be discovered, babies to be formed, prodigals to return, marriages to mend, broken hearts to be healed, and illnesses to be taken away. Even now He is working on my dreams and orchestrating the details of your desires. Even now He is parting the waters and giving sight to the blind. Even now you are on His mind and He will move heaven and earth for you and for me.

"What is sown is perishable...raised imperishable...sown in dishonor...raised in glory...sown in weakness...raised in power...sown a natural body...raised a spiritual body." 1 Co 15:43