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Following his death, someone discovered two ridges worn into the wooded floor beside his bed where he had prayed so often. And while such posture doesn’t guarantee answers to prayer, it certainly indicates a high level of submission and surrender. In the case of our central text, a time of intense prayer resulted in restored life. As Scripture indicates, “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived” (1 Kings 17:22). The prophet then picked the boy up, carried him down to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” (1 Kings 17:23). People rising from the dead, the miracle of miracles, happens at various times throughout Scripture–twice during the time of Elisha (2 Kings 4:18-37, 13:20-21), four times in Jesus’ ministry (Luke 7:11-17, 8:40-56, John 11, Matthew 27:50-53), and once each for Peter and Paul (Acts 9:36-43, 20:7-12). I term these resuscitations because those involved no doubt eventually died. The raising of Jesus is the first true resurrection, meaning He’s the first to receive a glorified body and remains alive to live forever. Notably, the Bible says that everyone who has ever lived, believers and non-believers, will be resurrected as well, “Those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life and those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment (John 5:28, 29). Believers will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ at His Second Coming (2 Corinthians 5:10), after which we will remain in the presence of Jesus forever. Non-believers will face Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), after which they will experience the second death and entrance into the lake of fire. This would be a great time to pause to make sure you are saved and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. If you have such assurance, share that good news with others.

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