A Broken Wall - Can It Be Rebuilt?

Our Life Group lesson yesterday centered around the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament.  Perhaps you are familiar with the story.  Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. and the Jews had been taken into exile.  Some years later, Jews began to return to Jerusalem, and the temple was rebuilt.  Even so, the walls around the city were still in shambles.  In those days, a city without walls was an unprotected city.  And so, Nehemiah and others returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.

That is, of course, a very condensed version of the story.  It's a fascinating story, and I encourage you to read it.  It won't take long to read the entire book of Nehemiah.  Just 13 chapters and such interesting history.

In the course of our discussion yesterday, the conversation turned - perhaps inevitably - to our own country.  To our broken walls.  I'm not making a political statement here.  I'm not talking about securing the borders against illegal immigrants, or about whether or not we should be reducing troop strength and how that impacts our defenses.  I'm talking about something I believe is far more important - our relationship with, our trust in, our reliance on Almighty God.

As a nation we have come a long way since 1776.  We are far removed from "In God We Trust".  Our wall is broken down.  Is there any hope for us as a nation?  Can the wall be rebuilt? 

The answer to that question, I believe, lies in the words of the Lord to Solomon when the first temple was completed in Jerusalem.

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

"If my people."  Not if all the pagans change their ways.  Not if people stop having abortions.  Not if the borders are secured.  Not if we increase our military might.  Not if the celebrities in Hollywood change their ways.

If God's people humble themselves.  It begins with us.  Those of us who say we belong to God.  If we, individually, obey God.  If we, individually, follow the instructions in this verse.  If we do what we are called to do, then we will see change.

It starts with us.  You and me. 

The old gospel hymn says it so well:

"Send a revival, O Christ, my Lord,

Let it go over the land and sea.

Send it according to Thy dear Word,

and let it begin in me."

(from "Lord, Send a Revival; words and music by B. B. McKinney)

 

 

The question is not "can the wall be rebuilt?"  The question is this:  Am I, are you, willing to be a rebuilder?  It's time to stop talking about what other people should be doing, and time to start doing what we know we should be doing.

 

 

"Go home.  Lock yourself in your room.  Kneel down in the middle of the floor, and with a piece of chalk draw a circle around yourself.  There, on your knees, pray fervently and brokenly that God would start a revival within that chalk circle."  (Rodney "Gypsy" Smith)