“He’s been dead for 45 minutes.” These were the words given to Joyce Smith when she saw her son John for the first time after he had been retrieved from the frozen waters of Lake Saint Louise. Doctors and medical staff worked diligently to try and bring life to his lifeless body. Joyce worked continually in prayer for her son. What happened next defies explanation.
After 27 minutes of performing CPR, Dr. Sutterer called in Joyce to talk to her son. Recalling the traumatic scene Joyce could not remember what all she said, only that she prayed aloud and asked God to send his Holy Spirit and save her son. She then heard something incredible, “We’ve got a pulse, we’ve got a pulse.”
John’s heart started to beat again.
If this is your first time hearing this story it will soon release in theaters later this year under the title “Breakthrough.”
Breakthrough
When you are dead a breakthrough is what you need to live a new life.
When you’re dead you can’t tell your lungs to breath. When you’re dead you can’t make your heart pump. When you’re dead you can’t sit-up or stand-up. When you’re dead someone else has to bring you to life.
Someone else had to give John Smith CPR. In fact it took a team of people including his mother who prayed over him and God gave him life again.
God you are the only who can rescue. You are the only one who can save.
John and his family had went from the valley of death, to the mountain top of life! What a contrast! What an amazing turn of events!
This is what salvation looks like for everyone who comes to Christ. God is the one who starts your heart. The Holy Spirit raises you from the dead.
From the Valley of Death to the Mountain of Life
In California stands Mt. Whitney. At 14,505 ft it’s the tallest mountain in the continental united states. Atop the mountain is crystal clear, crisp, cold air and endless vista views. But just eight miles southeast lies death valley. At 280 feet below sea
In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul takes us from the valley of death to the mountaintop of life.
The valley of death represents a person’s soul apart from Jesus at the hands of the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, Satan.
The valley of death is a life of disobedience and self-gratification. The mountaintop of life is the person who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Instead of a life of disobedience you are given a new life. A life of grace. A life of love.
Not Even Close
Some describe salvation as wanting to “get closer to God.” This language although sincere is not even close to describing what actually occurs when someone is granted salvation.
Salvation is the story not of a person’s amazing efforts to get closer to the divine by reaching up to God, but of God’s amazing grace in reaching down to save.
Salvation is the incredible story of people being raised from death to a new life in Jesus.
Love came down. Mercy reached out. Forgiveness dissolved transgressions.
There is No Try
Miley Cyrus once sang, “it’s the climb.” But salvation is not about climbing. It’s not. It’s not about climbing, striving, or trying, being strong or pushing on.
Nah, it’s about our loving God and his incomparably great power and the riches of his grace.
In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Jedi Master Yoda says to Luke Skywalker after Luke’s failed attempt to lift his submerged X-Wing out of a swamp, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
“There is no try,” in terms of salvation because God has done it all.
If salvation is up to you, you will fail, always. It is impossible for you. But with God, all things are possible. You must trust in the work of God and in his free gift of salvation.
It is by grace you have been saved.
Live by grace.
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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.