There’s a lie all of us need to consider — even towards all to be had proof. It trades on our God-given capability for hope. It tempts even the ones with impeccable theology. It lures us in after which leaves us within the lurch. It is going like this: “Lifestyles gets more uncomplicated if I simply make it previous this present problem.”
We really feel this manner about lifestyles levels. “If I will simply discover a romantic spouse . . . make it via grad college . . . marry and calm down . . . have kids . . . live on the diaper level . . . live on the horrible twos . . . live on the teenager years . . . discover a higher process . . . retire . . . then, in spite of everything, all shall be smartly.” We predict this manner about temptations. “If I will gather sufficient in my checking account, I received’t be troubled anymore.” “When I personal my own residence, I received’t envy what others have.” “Once I marry, pornography will not be a subject.”
You’ve more than likely noticed medicine ads that includes ridiculously have compatibility and satisfied older folks with silver hair and best tooth taking part in tennis and guffawing in a carefree model. That’s the lie. It’s now not true. In a few years of pastoral ministry, I’ve noticed a lot of folks paintings onerous and honor God via their childrearing years and careers simplest to retire and face larger demanding situations. Buddies transfer away. Misunderstandings with grown kids happen. Spouses die. Medicines multiply. Continuously, retirement isn’t a quiet harbor however the open ocean.
Since the Bible is sensible, nearly each web page punctures the lie. Specifically, the clear-eyed tale of Nehemiah reminds us that God’s folks face lifelong hardships and temptations. On the similar time, Scripture isn’t a suggest of melancholy for the ones in Christ. Like Nehemiah, we will be able to learn how to let onerous be onerous but additionally stuffed with hope. Imagine how his tale may provide recent power to your present season — now not some unpromised long term one.
Sea of Hardships
Tasked with rebuilding the Jerusalem wall, Nehemiah unearths himself surrounded via enemies. They only is not going to give up of their efforts to stymie his paintings. Like Wile E. Coyote, the well-known cool animated film nemesis of the Roadrunner, the adversaries are unrelenting, undeterred, all the time making an attempt new schemes. Their preliminary technique for hindering Nehemiah is mockery and public disgrace (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1–3). When that fails, they are trying deception, pestering Nehemiah for a non-public assembly, that means to hurt him (6:1–4). Then, in an open letter (in order that the rumor will unfold), they point out that he’s rebelling towards Persian authority (6:5–7). They are trying to spoil his popularity (6:10–13) and ship extra letters to scare him (6:19).
I will believe Nehemiah pronouncing to himself, “If I simply get this wall rebuilt, lifestyles shall be more uncomplicated.” However that’s the lie. As a result of as soon as the wall is done, the homes of Jerusalem should be rebuilt and the town repopulated (7:4). And, because it seems, those that fill the town are sinful, this means that Nehemiah should reply to persisted and sophisticated crises (see Nehemiah 13). It by no means stops. God’s folks face lifelong hardships and temptations.
John Newton understood this. In his hymn “Superb Grace,” he proclaimed his self belief that God can be his defend and portion “so long as lifestyles endures.” You want a defend simplest when spears and arrows are flying your manner, so Newton obviously believed they’d be within the air so long as he lived. Sure, many “risks, toils, and snares” have been already prior to now. However Newton knew that the baseline expectation for God’s folks is that extra will come. Our simplest secure haven is heaven, and there’s no heaven on earth. (No longer but, a minimum of.)
But biblical realism needn’t result in pessimism or passivity. Regardless of stiff opposition, Nehemiah and his fans stay on running and entire the wall (Nehemiah 6:15). Regardless of the continuing disobedience of those that returned to Jerusalem, Nehemiah continues to make reforms and phone the folk again to God (Nehemiah 13). Nehemiah chooses to stand actual hardships and temptations with full of life hope relatively than slack melancholy. And upon nearer inspection, his tale additionally presentations us how: via taking a look up and taking a look again.
Having a look Up
In the middle of unrelenting opposition, Nehemiah many times seems up. He speaks to the God of heaven who’s right here with him: “However now, O God, make stronger my palms” (6:9). Right here’s the primary key to completely happy perseverance amid pervasive difficulties: glance as much as God.
Nehemiah is known for atmosphere his attractions heavenward in tight spots. He tells us that, within the intimidating presence of King Artaxerxes of Persia, “I prayed to the God of heaven” (2:4). As he recounts his enemies’ name callings, he bursts into prayer: “Pay attention, O our God, for we’re despised!” (4:4). He’s a shining instance of the way to glance up.
And, in fact, our revel in of God’s presence is larger than his. We all know the Messiah’s title and the main points of his tale. We’ve noticed God’s glory in Jesus’s face. His very Spirit lives within us, encouraging and emboldening us. We experience his persistent assist. Thru him, we possess consistent, assured get right of entry to to the Father. So, in the end, we don’t want hardships and temptations to finish as a result of we’ve God with us in the course of them.
Having a look Again
No longer simplest does Nehemiah gaze heavenward; he additionally seems backward. God’s previous faithfulness is a 2nd supply of indominable hope. My church helps world companions who not too long ago discovered that sharing tales of God’s faithfulness at the venture box is noticeably lowering their anxieties whilst there. This may also be true for us too. As we meditate on God’s assist prior to now, our self belief in him grows within the provide.
Definitely, this is without doubt one of the causes for the differently baffling inclusion of Nehemiah 7, a protracted family tree of the primary wave of exiles who had returned to Jerusalem a century prior to Nehemiah’s day (see additionally Ezra 2). Why come with it right here? As it’s a tangible, explicit reminder of God’s meticulous previous provision. It fuels hope. In a similar way, the folk’s birthday celebration of the Ceremonial dinner of Cubicles (Nehemiah 8) reminds them of what God has already performed for them.
We too will have to glance again. “I bear in mind the times of previous; I meditate on all that you’ve performed; I’m wondering the paintings of your palms” (Psalm 143:5). In fact, we’re in a position to contemplate 1000’s extra years of God’s faithfulness than Nehemiah may. The reservoir of God’s grace has grown, and that grace now comprises Jesus’s lifestyles and redeeming paintings. God’s previous paintings fuels provide self belief within the face of long term demanding situations. We press ahead via taking a look again.
Onward
God’s folks undergo hardships and temptations that won’t finish prior to heaven. New difficulties are without a doubt simply across the nook for you — just a textual content, name, or electronic mail away. However don’t melancholy — and don’t pin your hopes at the useless expectation that struggling will stop. There is not any paradise right here.
As an alternative, glance again and glance up. God’s love will live much longer than each discouragement, concern, nervousness, setback, and temptation we are facing. Nehemiah presentations us the way to undergo grave demanding situations with happy hope.
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