Are you sure you’re alive?

Army veteran John Crabtree was wounded while serving in Vietnam, so for years he had been receiving disability benefits from the government when one day, out of the blue, he received an official notification that he was deceased.

John was shocked to hear of his demise.

In response, Crabtree wrote the government a letter stating that he was, indeed, very much alive and would like to continue receiving his benefits.

The letter did no good.

He then tried calling the government but the phone call didn’t change the situation either.

Finally, as a last resort, the veteran contacted a local television station which ran a human interest story about his plight.

The reporter asked Crabtree in the interview, “What do you feel about this whole ordeal?”

Crabtree chuckled and said, “Well, I feel a little frustrated by it. After all, have you ever tried to prove that you’re alive?”

You may have never been in a situation where you had to prove that you’re physically alive, but every day spiritually dead people try to find ways to feel alive.

To do so, they indulge in all the things that stimulate them. Whether it’s drugs, sex, adrenalin rushes, intellectual pursuits, relationships, or shopping sprees, when you’re really (spiritually) dead you’ll do all kinds of things to try to prove otherwise.

But the only way to truly be alive — more than just physically — is only through Jesus Christ …

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil — the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:1-6.

How do you demonstrate to the world that you’re spiritually alive and well?

Scotty