At a Special Olympics track meet, a young girl had just won the 50-yard dash. Excitedly jumping up and down she yelled out to her parents, “Look, Mom and Dad, I won!”
Upon hearing this exclamation, her parents immediately burst into tears. Later, at the awards ceremony the young girl stood proudly as a ribbon with a large gold-colored medal was placed around her neck. After receiving her award she excitedly ran to her parents who were sobbing even more than before. Even as the three of them hugged each other, the parents kept sobbing and weeping.
One of the officials, noticing the whole scene, became quite concerned with their increasing weeping. He finally went over to them and gently said, “Excuse me folks, but I’ve been watching you and I wondered if there is something wrong?”
Through her tears the mother smiled at him. “Oh no, nothing’s wrong. Everything’s right—everything is wonderful!”
Seeing the official’s confused look the girl’s father added, “We just heard our daughter speak for the first time in her life!”
Christian parents can easily identify with the feelings of this dear couple. Longing for the first signs of real life—eternal life—in their child, how diligently they listen for those words and watch for those actions which express the reality of personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We read in Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9), “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” What joy and comfort to a parent’s heart to hear a beloved child clearly and simply confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour for the first time.
It must have been a tremendous joy and comfort to dear Elisha, as he knelt in the room of the Shunemite’s dead son, to hear that young man sneeze seven times (2 Kings 4:32-3632And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. 34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. (2 Kings 4:32‑36)). He had felt the lad’s flesh grow warm—a sign of life. Now the man of God heard the sound of life and he was able to deliver the living child back to his mother.
In Luke 7:11-1811And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. 18And the disciples of John showed him of all these things. (Luke 7:11‑18) we read of the eternal Son of the Father raising to life the dead son of the mother. What divine, glorious power was expressed in the blessed Lord’s words, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”
Death must ever flee the presence and power of this glorious Eternal Life. What joy that dear widowed mother must have felt when he that was dead sat up and began to speak! Let us praise God for His infinite power and goodness, and trust Him for the salvation of our beloved children.
Ed.