When you have to rebuild...

     It has been my experience that the book of Nehemiah is not one of the most widely read books of the Bible.  I'm not sure why that might be the case (or even if it actually is the case), but I suppose there might be a lot of reasons.  It doesn't have the story of Jesus like the gospels.  It doesn't have a well-known main character like Moses.  It has a lot of hard names like Hallohesh, Sanballat and Tabbaoth.  However, I think there are some good lessons in this book and one of them struck me this week.

     I'm back to work at Northridge and working with young people preparing for the summer Bible Bowl season.  It's been a challenging time of getting everything in that needs to be done.  Working more hours and sleeping less has been an adjustment.  The truth is, though, I like doing it.  I like it a lot, actually.  That's not the message today.  The message from Nehemiah today is simply this.  Rebuilding can be tough, but stay with it.  Don't get distracted.  It can be done. 

     At the beginning of Nehemiah, the prophet gets this message, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace.  The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire" (Nehemiah 1:3).  For Nehemiah, this is troubling news.  He wept, sought the Lord and was convicted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  So, Nehemiah petitions the king to go back to his home, Jerusalem, and rebuild it.  This story is a wonderful read and I encourage all of you to check it out, but the point for today is that Nehemiah did just that.  He went home and began the arduous task of rebuilding.  Along the way he faced the challenge of criticism, distraction and daunting nature of the task, but he persevered.  The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt.  The words of God were once again read to the people; God had given them great joy and "the sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away" (Nehemiah 12:43).

     I know what you're thinking.  OK, that's a nice story but how does that affect me today?  I think there might be quite a few things that need to be rebuilt in our lives.  I'm working with young people learning the book of Acts for Bible Bowl competition.  They will memorize it word for word and be able to quote verses by the mention of a single word.  It is a tough process to get to that point.  Some of them have allowed the work they did during the year to "fall into disrepair."  They have to rebuild it.  It's not easy.  Other folks may have some even more serious rebuilding challenges.  Maybe what needs to be rebuilt is...

     A broken relationship

     A reputation

    A business or a career

    A life shattered by disease, death or divorce

     The point of Nehemiah and this message is that it can be done.  How?  Nehemiah 4:6 is the key.  "So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart."  That's how it gets done.  You work at it.  You begin in the middle of ruins and one stone or brick at a time, you put it back together.  It's not easy and you'll be challenged by opposition and distractions.  Follow, though, the example of Nehemiah. 

     Thanks for reading...