'Can these bones live?' | Westside Eagle Observer

And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know." Ezekiel 37:3 (read v. 1-14)

In so many ways, our generation has failed. Instead of teaching our children to know the LORD and His Word and to walk in His ways, we have been content to do the minimum and have instead allowed the world to teach and educate our children in accord with its ways and thinking. Our children have accepted, at least in part, the world's views on human origins, sexuality, morality and truth. Instead of believing the Bible to be the true and unerring Word of God, they view it as myth and spiritual teaching devoid of historical or scientific significance. Jesus has become to them just a great teacher and prophet but somewhat out of touch with modern society and culture. Truth has become relative and Biblical doctrine irrelevant.

And so, here we sit, wondering what will happen to the Christian faith and God's church in this world. God's judgment is falling upon our land and there appears little hope that our children and grandchildren and their generations will ever hear the truth of God's Word and see their sinfulness and need of a Savior. And it seems few will ever truly come to know Christ Jesus as the Son of God who sacrificed Himself for us on the cross to win for us salvation. All around us is spiritual death and dry dead bones. Is there any hope that these dry bones can live?

We read of similar times when Ezekiel served as prophet and priest. Israel and Judah had both turned aside from God's truth and accepted the ways of the people around them. They were in exile and all appeared hopeless.

In the valley of dry bones, God told Ezekiel to prophesy, and the bones were joined together again and covered with flesh. And when Ezekiel prophesied to the breath, God breathed life back into the dead and they became alive again.

You see, not only will our Lord Jesus raise all the dead from their graves on the Last Day, even now He calls out to lost sinners -- dead and bleached bones -- with His Word. He calls them to repent of their sins and to place their faith in Him and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is as He says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself..." (John 5:25,26; cf. Eph. 2:1-10; Rom. 8:11).

Our job in this valley of dry bones? Simply prophesy. Speak and preach the Word of God which reveals our sinfulness but also reveals Christ Jesus as God's Son and our Savior from sin and death! Then, by the mighty working of God's Spirit through the Word, we will begin to hear a rattling sound as bones join to bones and are covered with flesh. And then, as they hear the voice of Jesus offering them forgiveness for all their sins and life eternal, spiritual breath will enter their bodies and they will become alive to God through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Rom. 10:17).

Can these bones live? Yes, if they hear the voice of Jesus calling them to faith and life in Him!

O Spirit of God, grant that we preach and proclaim the living and powerful Word of God in this dead and dying world that those who were dead might live through faith in Christ Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Editorial on 04/05/2017