“Then I said to them ”You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” I told them how that hand of my God had been favourable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.”
Nehemiah 2:17-18
In my nation too there is desolation. People have been taken captive by the enemy and only a remnant survive who follow God. The “walls” of protection have been broken down and the nation is in ruins. Once this was a Christian nation where great revivals and moves of God took place. Charitable works were established from the overflow and government was affected greatly. Missionaries were sent out across the world to preach the good news of the gospel. Churches were filled with wholehearted followers of Christ. These men and women were faithful in their generation with the revelation entrusted to them. In recent years the church has become irrelevant to some and a joke to others. There is a remnant having a limited effect but the need is so great. Opposition has increased and apathy had been replaced by antagonism from atheist groups.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..”
Hebrews 12:1-2
It is not sufficient to pile up a few rocks here and there or even to build up a small stretch of wall. We need to hear the call to arise, to clear away the rubble and rebuild what has been destroyed. Much damage has been done by allowing the rubbish to remain. We need to be clear about what God requires of us and not invent our own guidelines for acceptable behaviour. We must not compromise or the whole structure will crumble when tested. We must build on the solid foundation of knowing Jesus and obeying His teaching.
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27
We must take time to read the teachings of Jesus, particularly that which went before this passage because of the “therefore”. We must spend time in His presence allowing Him to make them a part of us. We must act on them, not merely as a ritual, but as an expression of our love for Jesus.
If we respond to the call to arise and build, it will cost us. We must be prepared for the Holy Spirit revealing areas of sin and selfishness in us and teaching us how we should respond to His correction. We must love God wholeheartedly, laying everything else aside to pursue Him and the high calling He has given us. We must not give up.
If we don’t respond to the call it will cost the nation. We are the light of the world, if we do not show them Jesus, our lives reflecting His glory, how will they see Him? If we do not rebuild the walls the enemy is free to continue to bring destruction.
We must arise and build.
