It is good to be in the “land of the living. The true place of true and eternal hope.
David speaks of the land of the living in Psalm 27.
[Psalm 27:13 NASB95] 13 [I would have despaired] unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Paul roughly defines what it is to be outside the “land of the living”. Yes, of course, it is to be dead. But to use a contemporary phrase, the apostle defines us all as “Deadmen Walking” when he speaks of being dead in your sins.
[Ephesians 2:1 NASB95] 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
[Ephesians 5-6 NASB95] 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus,
David speaks of seeing the “goodness of the LORD”, in the land of the living.
Where do we see the goodness of the LORD? No, No, not, what things or circumstances do we see His goodness in? But where?
It is in the LAND OF THE LIVING. The place of life, and if I may be so bold, the place of life eternal.
In Ephesians 2 mentioned above. the good news is that: (I’m adding verse four here for understanding)
[Ephesians 2:4-6 NASB95] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 EVEN WHILE WE WERE DEAD IN OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus,
The goodness of the LORD in the land of the living, is seen, understood, and experienced in resurrection life. That is, life out of death. Even while we were dead… God made us alive TOGETHER WITH CHRIST. (Note this is not just pie in the sky when we die physically. It is a present reality. Even while we were dead… God in His love and mercy …made us alive together with Christ. )
Jesus is alive, and we are alive in Him. This is the land of the living, the place of true and eternal life. It is that Kingdom Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus that you can see and comprehend once one is born again. It is our steadfast hope and faith in a resurrected and living Jesus.
Paul in arguing the centrality of the resurrection and a risen Christ to Corinth writes.
[1Corinthians 15:16-21 NASB95] 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man [came] death, by a man also [came] the resurrection of the dead.
Once that issue is settled. Once you know death has been conquered in HIm. There is nothing you face that leaves you in despair. Fear is disarmed. Nothing is too much or impossible for the God with Whom we have to do.
In John 11 Jesus deals with His disciples and Mary and Martha in the death of Lazarus. I will not go into the long discourse here that I would like to regarding this event/passage (perhaps another time), but to say that Jesus was approximately two weeks from His own death and resurrection when these events took place. It is the last recorded miracle before His crucifixion. A powerful display of his authority over death and life, and of His being the resurrection and the life. And, of course a foreshadowing of what would be coming in His death and resurrection.
The characters here are those closest to Him. The disciples that had followed and been with Him for 3 years, and Mary and Martha and Lazarus who are specifically mentioned in the scriptures as among those “He loved”. j
Amongst the mourners and the grief of the loss of Lazarus enters Jesus. He also grieves. The shortest verse in scripture is here “Jesus wept”. But, I am convinced His grief was not over the dead Lazurus for He knew the glory of God was about to be revealed in life out of death in him. His grief was at the unbelief of those nearest and beloved of Him.
They could talk of deep theology and teaching. But they did not yet comprehend/believe/see who He was. And, even though He had told the disciples directly 3 times what He must go through, and what must happen. They were not focussed on God’s plan and purpose, but their own.
Too much to go into further here. But may I encourage us to consider and to embrace Jesus as still the resurrection and the life. He in whom we live and move and have our being. He in whom we constantly, in all circumstances, find, experience, and see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. And, we as His body have the privilege of manifesting that goodness of the LORD in the land of the living to others, and inviting others to come and see it and join us in true life there.
[Psalm 27:1-14 NASB95] 1 [A Psalm] of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In [spite of] this I shall be confident. 4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. 8 [When You said,] “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a level path Because of my foes. 12 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 [I would have despaired] unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.
[Romans 8:10-11 NASB95] 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.