The Walking Dead

I saw a clip not long ago regarding the House of Commons in Canada. The topic that they were addressing is the concern of a “zombie apocalypse”. As the people in the House listened to the concerns, many of them began to laugh and cheer. As I watched the clip and heard the concerns, it came to my mind that we are and have been involved in a sort of “zombie apocalypse” for quite some time now.

 One of the most popular shows on television right now is called “The Walking Dead”. It is based on a small group of survivors living in the aftermath of a “zombie apocalypse”. The zombies show all signs of life on the outside but inside they are dead in mind and spirit.

 Jesus speaks clearly and to the point regarding those who take on the appearance of having life but are truly dead. On the outside, everything looks like normal just like it would on anyone else. On the inside however, it’s a totally different story.

 He spoke of the scribes and Pharisees in this way and often refers to them as hypocrites. In Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus says that they are like white washed tombs. They appear beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones. In Revelation 3 Jesus addresses the church of Sardis and tells them that they have the reputation of being alive but are dead on the inside.
 Are we, who were once alive in Christ, in a “zombie” mode now? Do we find ourselves walking around with the “look” of Christianity? We have it all together on the outside but inside we are dying or are already dead. We know all the right things to do in a ritual aspect and can play church like a professional but inside our heart is far from the things of the Lord. If that’s the case, maybe we were never alive in the first place.

 Ezekiel 37 is the story of “The Valley of Dry Bones”. God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones. He told him to prophesy to the bones. In verse 4 and 5 it says, “Then He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. (5) Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”

Are you tired of feeling like you’re dragging around a body full of dead, dry bones? Are you tired of playing church but have done it so long that you are embarrassed what other people might think if you confess that Jesus has never been Lord of your life?

 Step out in faith. God will meet you right where you are and bring you back to life. Ask Him for forgiveness. Leave the “old” you behind and take hold of the new. Live for Jesus, don’t just be a billboard for Him.

Colossians 2:6-15 (NLT)
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.  He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.