What’s the strangest thing that has ever happened to you at church? I bet you’d have a hard time beating Eutychus’ story.
The Apostle Paul was in Troas for a week of special meetings. Being a preacher Paul kept on talking until it was close to midnight. The room was lit with oil lamps which meant it was getting stuffy. No doubt everyone was getting a little tired. Eutychus was sitting on a window ledge, perhaps for some fresh air. He grew drowsy and nodded off to sleep. Then he fell out of the window.
He fell from the third story and was pronounced dead. But Paul went down and prayed over him. “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him” said Paul. (Acts 20:7-12) They all went back upstairs to eat and talked until the morning. It was a night they would all remember.
Luke records that the people went away comforted. They had seen God at work in a mighty way. Only God can effect a resurrection and this strengthened their faith. They could have full confidence in the message of Jesus since it was backed up by miracles. Our Creator is able to bring life out of death.
Certainly God brings us spiritual life. We were dead in our sins but God has given us life. We are a people of the resurrection. Not only our spiritual life but in so many aspects we look to God to bring life out of death.
Sometimes it’s our hopes and dreams that are dead. They’ve fallen out of the window and landed lifeless far away from us. We think nothing can be done. But then we hear the word of God speak, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” Don’t forget that our God is a miracle worker. The situation that looks hopeless can become hopeful when God is at work.
So the lesson is – don’t fall asleep in church and look to God who brings life out of death.