LESSONS FROM THE VALLEY OF DRIED BONES

By Dr. Sterling Lands, II

Who among us has not stood at some time or other by the grave of his hopes? Who has not faced a situation in which any possibility of recovery seemed to be ruled out in advance?
“I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with dry bones. He led me around among the old, dry bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground. Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" "O Lord," I replied, "you alone know if they can." (Old Testament) The Prophet Ezekiel saw a valley covered with the dry bones of his people.
Today the African born in America is, from a human point of view, alone, exhausted, discouraged, defeated, crushed, and impoverished, indeed as good as old dead dried bones. The bones in Ezekiel’s vision represent people who were scattered and hopeless. The graves in Ezekiel’s vision are the nations where they lived. We are the scattered people and we live in a land that is not our own. We will be restored only when we stop conforming to the program of the slave masters and renew our minds for life and liberty.
Sin offends God and separates us from him. Separated from GOD is spiritual death. God is holy and he cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn’t matter. Our times of peace and prosperity make us lazy and complacent even if it is an illusion. We have allowed our material abundance to hinder our spiritual readiness.
Have you notice how harsh we can be to each other? There is almost no such thing as agreeing to disagree or disagreeing without becoming disagreeable. Don’t be surprised at the hostility and hardness of rebellious people. Even when the power of God is fully and completely revealed, many will still refuse to repent. The vision of the dry bones should encourage discouraged people. It represents the power and grace of God, in the conversion of the nastiest person.
Although we have been programmed as slaves for over 400 years, circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond God’s power. Faith in God is the most reliable weapon we have. Our unshakable faith is built on the confidence that God’s ultimate purpose will come to pass.
Remember that we live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished. When your situation seems hopeless, determine that no matter how bad things become you will remember the lessons form the valley of dried bones. These bones will live again! God will hears your prayers and he will rescue you. Some body said, “hope for the best; get ready for the worst; then take what God chooses to send”. God can take our dead and scattered hopes, pull them together, and breathe life into them again.
We have the power to act, to make history, and to change the face of things. We will be blessed only when we are ready and eager to be blessed. From the disasters of the present we will come forth with a closer unity, a more resolute purpose, and greater aptitude for overcoming our circumstances.
As long as the dry bones lay scattered around on the valley floor they had no power. As soon as the bones came together they became a conquering army. We must serve according to our knowledge, trusting God to continue the discipline of failure or transform our frustration into success