It Takes a Catalyst
Just look at it! Rubble and charred embers virtually as far as the eye can see. It is Jerusalem, or what was left of it when the first wave returned from captivity in Babylon. Breathtaking for sure, in the negative sense of that word.
You’ve seen pictures of the devastation in Ukraine, haven’t you? Or other historical photos of bombed out rubble. It doesn’t require high explosives to do that, just manpower and determination. Jerusalem’s conquerors wanted to ensure that no rebellion would be mounted from this has-been fortress city. This place was in shambles because God had removed his blessing.
With the encouragement of the Lord’s messages through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the people completed the all-important task of rebuilding God’s temple. Now they could worship the Living God with the right sacrifices in the right place – forgiveness of sin was possible once more.
Then, they ran out of gas. No wall for the city, simply scattered debris. Few lived on that site, no walls equaled zero security; so, people opted for country living and neglected the City of David.
Consider their thoughts: Every time they looked at the rubble, a wave of despair would wash over them. “This is not right! Something needs to change! But it’s too big a task, there’s too much opposition, I’ve never done it before.” “Honestly, I just don’t have it in me.”
Where are we going with this history lesson? We American Christians find ourselves in a similar set of circumstances. We’ve watched society decay and fall into rubble, almost before our eyes! We’re living amid spiritual rebellion and moral rot. “This isn’t the country I grew up in.” I hear that again and again. Spiritual decay. Brokenness abounds.
The same form of paralysis of the will seems to flood our hearts. “Something needs to happen. It’s too much to handle. Let’s just check out so we don’t have to think about it.”
Recently my heart has been drawn to the calling that Nehemiah experienced and wrote about in his book (Old Testament). The O.T. is an exhibit of human nature and how the Lord meddles in hearts and history. It lays out in narrative form the way that YHWH and his people relate. Nehemiah shows the kind of quality results that occur when God is taken seriously.
Israel was conquered and led away in stages, then, at the right time, returned home in waves. Our current focus is set years after the temple was rebuilt. The saga’s opening scene is in Persia where the king’s cupbearer receives the heartbreaking news. (This person made certain the king wasn’t poisoned, a kind of human guinea pig. The job paid well, but I imagine it was difficult to get life insurance.)
His response to his brother’s report was to sit down and cry. He proceeded to mourn, fast, and pray for days. Then, within the sorrow, the seed of an idea sprouts and takes root. We have the advantage of being invited into Nehemiah’s thoughts and prayers. He wanted to return, on mission, to Jerusalem and lead in rebuilding the walls.
It’s well worth your time to revisit the book: a laboratory of godly leadership. You’ll observe a man of prayer who feared God, a man who followed through despite opposition, a catalyst.
He laid out a vision, a plan, that captivated the people – for the first time in a long time, they began to see it as a project worthy of being tackled. The third chapter describes the rebuilding team. Mind you, they did not advertise, take bids, or hire a contractor, it was purely a do-it-yourself project. Priests, perfumers, goldsmiths, and a man’s daughters – not your normal construction crew, to be sure – were involved. Many built near home.
Nehemiah got his hands dirty and led in every aspect of the work. They faced opposition from enemies and turmoil from within their ranks, yet they persevered. I’ll leave it to you to read and absorb the rest of their story yet provide you with this note: they succeeded.
It took a catalyst.
We’re staring in virtual disbelief daily at the moral rubble around us. Something must be done. Yes, we need to be involved in political and cultural maneuvers – we cannot abdicate our calling to be salt and light in our world.
Still to counteract this spiritual rot requires a powerful move from the Spirit of God; but how do we get his attention? How do we move Heaven? A form of paralysis has gripped our hearts and minds. Many prefer to “check out” mentally, so we don’t have to face the present darkness. (It’s possible, there’s enough scrolling, viewing, and considering end-times viewpoints available that we needn’t look too closely at our surroundings.)
Just like in the days of Nehemiah, God’s people must rally to a cause. We must exert effort and engage in steps that may well be unfamiliar, yet critical to the needed change. Our task is more difficult than theirs – they could see the rubble and put stones back into order. We are required to do our work in the invisible spiritual realm begging our Lord to move and change lives.
Still, this is the hand we have been dealt. I can’t guarantee victory, this country, despite its virtues, has the stain of the shedding of innocent blood on its hands – our God hates that. I can’t guarantee victory, but I can assure you that if we do nothing, the result will be a nightmare. We must gain the attention of heaven, begging for God’s mercy and imploring him to launch a Great Spiritual Awakening.
Now I have no visions of grandeur to think that I am Nehemiah Junior, yet God has spoken to my heart, and I am constrained by him to speak out in any way that I can to believers in Christ. In response to his call, I’ve volunteered to be a catalyst.
The Lord has directed me to a spiritual focus and a method of appealing for our Creator’s consideration. I invite you to read on and consider:
This country is facing a deficit, a moral deficit. We’re severely lacking the fear of God – Note carefully, this is not the same as fearing hell. Rather, it concerns taking God seriously. A large percentage of our nation considers God and what interests him insignificant. Have you ever observed so much insanity? “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”
I have found more than 100 Biblical references to the fear of God. It’s remarkable where the concept arises, often connected to some of our most cherished verses. Jesus admonished us to appropriately fear God because he holds our eternity in his hands. (Luke 12) There’s so much more that I could say – don’t just take my word for it, dig in for yourself.
Now then, how do we gain the Lord’s attention? Let me show you a time it happened – recorded in the book of Malachi. I find the era described in Malachi to have a lot of similarities with our times: believers cutting corners, spiritual leaders nodding in approval, problems with family, sin rampant, and God’s people asking (sort of complaining), “Where is God? Why doesn’t he do something? It looks like he’s siding with the bad guys!”
On the heels of a gripe session, we read this line, “Those who feared God talked to each other, and the Lord paid attention.” Stop, look, and listen “the Lord paid attention.”
Then these people who took God seriously went on record. They wrote a scroll of remembrance, official document, that listed their names and stated, “We fear God and care about the honor of his name.” Our Heavenly Father’s reaction is recorded in the end of Malachi 3 and rolls into chapter 4 – without doubt, their stand pleased him!
If it happened once, it could happen again. I could develop an online petition where individuals could sign and state “I fear God and care about the honor of his name.” Without doubt, millions of Christians, once aware of its existence, would be enthusiastically sign it, and subsequently forget all about it. We’re great at “doing something.”
Rather, those of us who take God seriously need to talk with each other – in small groups. Perhaps you already participate in one, or in the forerunner – a Sunday School class. You are one step down the road. Other small groups can be assembled. Allow me to remind you that many are dying of loneliness in our society; small groups can make a world of difference for them, too.
The Lord called me to develop a series of twelve meetings focused on different scriptural aspects of taking God seriously. I’ve also recorded video introductions on the Rumble platform so that they are easily accessible. The price is right – free. When Jesus sent out his disciples to call attention to the Kingdom, he said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” I don’t want expense to be an impediment. This needs to spread far and wide and rapidly.
My vision is believers meeting for twelve sessions, focusing on the fear of God and the cultural decay we see due to the lack of it; responding with prayer for our society and for our Lord to receive the honor he is due. Then, the alumni move on to recruit others and walk through the study again. Multiplying groups will be our chance to get the word out, get believers focused on what is important, and get our Creator’s attention.
Are you interested? taking.god.seriously2023@gmail.com