The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:44 (NIV)
Jesus calls and the man who was dead woke up and came out of the tomb. He is still wrapped in the cloth that had covered his decaying body. In our day we are well accustomed to the sight of zombies, mummies and walking dead. Television and movies seem to turn the subject into a natural and normal occurrence. So we imagine people who are dead still living. Is it a contradiction of terms? Or does it describe us quite well? Are we humans in a way, walking dead? In our choice to live outside of the will of God, are we choosing to live as creatures that are half alive? Are we slowly decaying in our sin and separation from the Lord? Have we all sealed our own tombs by wandering down our own paths and far from Him? Have we chosen death over life? If we are not urgently and actively doing everything in our power to approach God, are we still wrapped in our grave clothes?
At the voice of Jesus miracles happen. Dead men are raised to life again. God gives Jesus the authority needed to command that the grave holds us no longer. The stone is moved from the entrance to our tomb. His voice, that sweet, sweet voice, is beckoning us out into the Light. We are called to Life again. Can we hear Him? Are we listening? Will we hear Him? Will we be moved into action? Will we follow His voice out into the new awakening? Will we go to Him? Or have we grown accustomed to the darkness of this tomb where we dwell? Are we choosing not to stand up from our grave? Are we holding short of following His voice? Are we staying with our cold still hearts far from His warm and shining Presence?
Lazarus heard the Saviour´s voice. He came out of His grave. He came back from the dead. It was a miracle of God! It was a glorious work of the Lord! Our time is now. What are we going to do? Can we hear our Lord saying to remove the cloth from our eyes too? Is He giving the command again to throw off the linen that binds our hands and feet? Are our hearts quickening to life to hear He wants us to step out and follow Him wherever He may lead us today? Is He giving us the chance to be let go from the death that binds us now?
Dear Jesus, faint as we may hear it, our hearts leap at the sound of Your voice. Are You calling us from our dark tomb of death? Are You calling us to new life again? Would You have us step into the Light and leave our former destiny? We were bound by the clothes of death until You saved us. Now please let us hear Your voice loud and clear. Give the command again! Let it be that we are freed too! Tell our grave of sin to let us go! Let us leave the clothes that bind and step out to come to You now!
Amen
Searching For Christ 
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