His Breath is the Hope of Life

Hope isn’t very durable unless it’s based in reality.

So, if I want to be sure that what I hope for is something authentic, I’ve got to do my homework. And if I’m willing to actually read the Bible, I can determine for myself that God’s unique capacity to give life is a process which follows a logical pattern.

In his creation account of the Book of Genesis, the author [probably Moses] records the first man existed as a lifeless form until it was infused with a miraculous substance described as the Lord’s breath:

“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” [Gen.2:7] [נֶפֶשׁ (nê-phêsh) a soul, living being, life, self, person]

In the same manner, I was given a type of animating sustenance through the physiological processes present in my mother’s womb. However, according to Solomon, when I die, this “breath” of life in me will again return to the One who originally gave it to me, rendering me a lifeless form—just like that first man was before life was breathed into him and after he died:

“…then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the breath will return to God who gave it.” [Eccl. 12:7] [רוּחַ (rū-wôck) breath, wind, spirit]

So, since it’s impossible for consciousness to exist apart from brain activity [see: Eccl. 9:5; Psa. 146:3-4], where can I find the Scriptural evidence that God’s breath will again be breathed into me in the future, making me alive?

The Old Testament might provide some answers.

After all, everything recorded in these Jewish writings and prophecy form the basis of what the New Testament authors referred to as The Good News. For example, the Lord God described to His prophet Ezekiel exactly how He was going to raise His people from the dead in the future:

“…I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive, and you will know that I am the LORD.” [Ezek. 37:6; read: Ezekiel 37:1-14 for full context]

Do you think that, as partakers of Christ’s New Covenant, these passages are somehow irrelevant to us? Read Eph. 3:1-12 and Gal. 3:26-29 and think again.

[Read why nothing could be more relevant: It’s All About Also.]

If my hope is in anything other than what was promised to God’s people of the Old Testament, it’s not based in reality.

The work of the Man Jesus Christ didn’t establish the breath of life.

It is, however, what makes it available to us again.