Cannibals or Worms!

    A young German countess, who lived in the 19th century, was a noted atheist and was extremely opposed to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead.  She died when about 30 years of age.  Before her death she gave the command that her grave should be covered with a solid slab of granite.  Around the perimeter of it should be placed square blocks of stone and that the corners should be fastened to each other and to the granite slab by heavy iron clamps. 
    She was determined to prove that her body would never have a chance to come forth and stand before God.  According to her, her body was going to remain intact to the earth and nobody, not even God, could uncover her.  Her headstone read: “This burial place, purchased to all eternity, must never be opened.” 
    So, all that human power could do to prevent any change in her grave was done.  But, God is so big that He uses little things to confound the wise.  A tiny seed sprouted, and a little shoot found its way between the side stones and the upper slab.  Slowly it grew.  Steadily it forced its way between the slab of granite and blocks until the iron clamps snapped and broke asunder.  The granite lid was raised from its resting place until now it is propped upside the tree trunk which is huge and flourishing.  The grave is now open and the people of Hanover regard it with almost a kind of superstition and speak in low tones of the foolish but wicked countess.
    Not only has God shown His thought of such foolishness, but He has emphatically stated, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the books were opened…” (Revelations 20:11-15).  Wow!  God declares that death is not the end and that, at His command, the grave can hold nobody down.  Every person will rise to receive a reward according to what they have done in this life. 
    John G. Paton, a nineteenth-century missionary to the South Seas, met opposition to leaving his home in Scotland and going to preach to the cannibalistic peoples of the New Hebrides Islands.  A well-meaning friend moaned to him, “The cannibals!  The cannibals!  You will be eaten by the cannibals!”  Without hesitation, Paton replied, “I confess to you that if I can live and die serving my Lord Jesus Christ, it makes no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; for in the Great Day of the Resurrection, my body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer!”  
    The reason Jesus Christ the Son of God came to earth was to forgive us of our sins and to give us abundant life now and forever.  He then defied the power of death by rising from the grave to give us the hope of living eternally with Him.  When we ask Him to forgive us or our sins, quicker than a twinkling, He does.  Then He writes our name in the book of life.  Jesus took the fear of death and judgment away.  Our part in this transaction is, only believe and receive His promise by faith.

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