“RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE…not you, just Lazarus!”

Altered Beast has always been one of my favorite Genesis games. I would stay up for hours on end playing it, I have lots of good memories with the 16-bit beauty.

I’ll never forget rigging my Genesis up to my sister’s old stereo system and hearing, “RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE!” for the first time–in blaring monotone. It was cool because voice in games was still a luxury and this was the pinnacle of technology for its day; at least it was for me.

For whatever reason, I started thinking about it and remembering that I had downloaded it long ago on my 360, I decided to fire it up and play for a while. As I selected my options and hit start, I waited for the classic line to be delivered, with all the same giddiness that I had once as a child. As Zeus commanded my character, I took notice of something that reminded me of the story of Lazarus from the Bible.

If you want to read the whole story–and you should because it’s good–check out John 11, but basically, Jesus gets word (not that He didn’t know already mind you) that his friend Lazarus was ill, and I don’t mean the flu. Scripture doesn’t say what affliction he had but it was bad, bad enough to where people knew that if Jesus didn’t come and heal him soon, he would die.

Jesus took His time and Lazarus died.

Four days later Jesus arrives and Lazarus’s sisters, Marry and Martha, are not very happy with Him. Nevertheless, Jesus having known all along what was going on didn’t break a sweat. He tells them to roll back the stone and then in verses 43-44 it says that:

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Unlike Altered Beast when you are called from the grave in the middle of the cemetery, Jesus called out specifically to Lazarus. My guess is that because of His awesome might and power, had He simply just said “come out!” the entire graveyard would’ve risen (like in the game) and people would have really freaked out.

They already knew that Jesus had power because he performed many miracles, many of which are not even mentioned specifically in scripture, only in passing. John 21:25 tells us that:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Many times as Christians (at least this is true for me,) we can get confused trying to figure out God’s calling for us or what He is trying to tell us. And let’s face it, the devil likes to deceive us as well. However, like Lazarus, when He wants you specifically to know something, you will know it because He will call you out from your own grave, whatever that may be. You don’t have to worry about an Altered Beast scenario where everyone gets up and starts doing their thing. When He wants you to know or to do, He will call you. The only problem I have ever had recognizing his voice is if I wasn’t listening in the first place. So when the Lord calls you from your grave, get up, take off those grave clothes and get to work about the Lord’s business.

See, you can learn a lot from videogames. Have a blessed day.