Dead Men Walking

Zombies-what are they?  Who are they? We have seen them in movies, tv programs and comic books.  But perhaps you have seen them not knowing who they were.  A zombie is a person who is or appears lifeless, someone apathetic or completely unresponsive to their surrounding, the living dead.  Yes, the living dead!

For those who know Jesus Christ as Savior, we are given life-eternal life at the moment that we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  We are no long dead!  For those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior, they are the dead, the zombies and the dead men/women walking.  Without Christ there is no salvation and there is no forgiveness of sin.  It is sin that keeps us dead.

Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

 Jesus died that we might live.  All it takes is a choice to believe that He is the Son of God, that He died for our sins on the cross and He rose from the dead thus conquering death for us.  We can not save ourselves with good works.  The truth is we can never be good enough to buy our way into eternal life.  It is only through God's grace and love that we are saved.

Ephesians 2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.

If you could see the souls of the people we meet on the street, at church, in the checkout line, at school or anywhere else we might be, would they be a zombie?  Would they be the dead?  Look around you.  Do you see the living dead?  If you know someone without Jesus, a friend, a loved one or anyone else that does not proclaim Jesus as Lord then you know a zombie.  Tell them about Jesus and His great love for us.  Help them become a living, breathing soul that has eternal life in the presence of God.

The Lamb Was Silent

I recently watched a sheep shearing demonstration in Australia.  The sheep to the left sat silent and still as the owner of the ranch talked about sheep and the shearing process. He continued to talk for several minutes explaining what was about to happen as the wool was removed from the sheep.  The animal at his feet did not make a single movement or a single sound. 

Then in the shearing area, an experienced shearer very carefully and deliberately began removing the wool from the silent sheep. As the shearing proceeded, the sheep made not a sound and moved only as directed by the shearer's hand.

It was not until yesterday, that I understood the significance of what I had witnessed.  The lesson was on Phillip's witness to the enunch in Acts 8:29-35

Acts 8:29-35 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

         "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
         AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
         SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
    ³³"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
         WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
         FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, went before His accusers and was silent.  Remember when Pilate sent Jesus to be judged by Herod.  Jesus didn't make a sound.

Luke 23:8-10 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.

AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.

Jesus spoke not a word and moved only at the direction of the Father's Hand.