Living Among the Ruins

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the walls…’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king said to me.” Nehemiah 2:17-18

After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.

Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’

The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.

Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.

Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.