ALIVE TO BE ALIVE –

The ten tribes of Israel had been through so much since the collapse of Solomon’s kingdom and the resulting disintegration of unity between themselves and Judah. Finding this divided nation now weak and without a leader like David, heathen kings were quick to take advantage and invade what was once called the Promised Land for Abraham’s children. This resulted in many Jews being exiled to foreign lands and integrated into the culture of Gentile nations. However, there were those that believed God’s promise that they would be brought back to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple. One such returning exile wanted to express his faith and trust in the God who did not fail. He did not just want to exist, he wanted to be alive and live.

“Say, ‘Hallelujah!” I want to join the congregation of believers in worshiping the LORD Eternal with everything that’s in me. The things He’s done for us are incredible and appreciated only by those who really admire them. Every work He has completed in our lives is meant to lift us up so we can shine for His glory; He will complete what He begin in us no matter how long it takes. These things that only He can do, stand as a living memorial to Him as a gracious and compassionate LORD Eternal. He blesses those who worship Him, and never goes back on His promises. He has a purpose for what He’s done for His children, for they will one day inherit the earth. All the things He accomplishes are based on the reliable principles of truth and justice, that can be trusted to never fail. He established them to be permanent and operate openly and honestly. He initiated the plan of salvation for His people, and ordained that it would last forever as a testament to His sacred and holy name. Understanding this begins by recognizing Him as our Eternal LORD; then gaining insight from what we’ve learned so we can practice it in everyday life. That way, our praise for Him will go on throughout eternity.” Psalm 111:1-10

Reflection: Famous Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky tells about the time Czar Nikolai had him arrested on Friday, November 16, 1849, and sentenced him to die by firing squad. On the day he was to be executed he woke up early, and when they fed him his last meal he ate it slowly, savoring every morsel. As they marched him to the courtyard in freezing weather, he felt the heat of the sun and appreciated its warmth like never before. He drew in every breath with an increased sense of appreciation. As he walked by the onlookers, he studied intensely each face he looked into, etching them into his mind. All of a sudden everything around him took on a magical quality, and he saw the world in a way he’d never seen it before. For the first time in a long time he appreciated just being alive. Czar Nikolai liked to play cruel mind tricks on people just to torment them. In Dostoevsky’s case, he had him blindfolded and placed him in front of a firing squad. The commander of the squad called out the order to fire. Dostoevsky heard the guns fire, but felt nothing because their guns were loaded with blanks. It was all meant to terrorize him so that he would fall in line and became obedient to the Czar. After realizing that they did not actually shoot him, everything about life changed for Dostoevsky. He became thankful for every blessing. He even expressed gratitude to people he previously hated. This experience inspired him to become a novelist, and after his release in 1854 he wrote about life in a way never before known to him. The psalmist indicated a similar experience, and shared the new outlook on life it provided him. In the same way, when we as believers remember the sentence of death we faced as sinners, and how close we actually came to dying in our sins, it should make us appreciate each day with renewed gratitude to our God for caring so much that He did everything possible to save us from everlasting punishment and give us a new life that will last forever.