I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine today and it was good for the soul. It was the kind of conversation where they help you connect the dots of the journey that God has you on. I was sharing with my friend that I know that God is at work right now in my life, God is literally moving me from inward to outward. He is pushing me to focus on others, pushing me to influence positive behavior in others by not being ashamed of my own weakness. He is pushing me to reach out more, help more, care more, give more. I hear the still small voice telling me "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3;30).
Now don't think I have become "Holier than though", I am still a sinner, I still struggle every day, Without Christ, I am nothing.
I can't explain exactly how my brain works, but I relate many things to literature, movies, music, etc. Tonight I was reading in Nehemiah and I was reminded of the film "The Last Castle" with Robert Redford. If you haven't seen the movie, I'm about to give at least part of it away...sorry. The movie centers around a highly decorated Army General who refuses to NOT take responsibility for his actions. He made a bad decision and elected to go to prison vs. taking numerous other paths that he could have taken. There is a pile of rocks from an old wall that is used as punishment for inmates who disobey (this is a military prison). The inmates are made to carry the heavy stones from one side to another. The General sees that the men inside the prison have all lost their way, they were all once "good soldiers" but something had come along their path to corrupt them and land them in the prison. Each one of them believed that their poor past choices was a final outcome of their life, they had crossed a line that they couldn't uncross. They believed that their one bad choice erased any and all good that they had ever done. They believed the lie that "Failure is a final outcome" instead of the truth that Failure is NOT final unless we choose to make it so. The General makes it his personal mission to give each of these men their self respect back, he makes it his mission to get them to forgive themselves, to band together, and the "rock pile" that had been a point of punishment in the past becomes a rallying point. The prisoners put aside their differences and begin to work together on rebuilding the old prison wall. They put aside their differences, they work together, all the while the General's focus is on improving the men in the prison, but you can clearly see in the movie that by doing so it is helping him with his own demons. It's a powerful film.
So how does all of this relate to Nehemiah? Read the below first and let me explain.
Nehemiah 4;10-20
10 In Judah it was said, The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.11 And our enemies said, They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, You must return to us.13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.
Just as in "The Last Castle", in Nehemiah, the wall is a rallying point. Everyone worked together, from all clans, every status of society, rich, poor, laborers, rulers, etc. They supported each other, half would work and the other half would stand at the ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor ready to defend not only the wall, but their neighbor. Nehemiah was overseeing it all, rallying the troops to fend off attacks at various points along the wall. Nehemiah reminds the people in verse 20 "Our God will fight for us". Do you see it? It's not about the wall, it's about the focus, it's about trusting in Him, It's about letting God move us out of the way so that He can fight for us. He doesn't want us focused on our own cause, God wants us focused together on His cause.
When the people were working on the wall, they weren't focused on sinning, they weren't focused on themselves. They were focussed on building the wall and protecting those building the wall. When we stop focusing inward on ourself and instead focus on loving others like Christ, GOD MOVES! We need each other to get the wall built. We need to guard one another while the other works and visa versa.
Maybe today you feel like you are stuck where you are. Maybe today you feel like you are in a prison. If that is you today, I have great news for you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE and "OUR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US". We are all in this together. Surround yourself with other believers and don't try to go it alone. Sound the trumpet so that others know where help is needed. Maybe today you feel like God is pushing you to move from "Inward" to "Outward". Listen for the trumpet, rally around those who need help, get your Bible, Hit your knees, share how God has used you even in your weakness. We are all in this together.
"Take a look at a castle. Any castle. Now break down the key elements that make it a castle. They haven't changed in a thousand years. 1: Location. A site on high ground that commands the territory as far as the eye can see. 2: Protection. Big walls, walls strong enough to withstand a frontal attack. 3: A garrison. Men who are trained and willing to kill. 4: A flag. You tell your men you are soldiers and that's your flag. You tell them nobody takes our flag. And you raise that flag so it flies high where everyone can see it. Now you've got yourself a castle. The only difference between this castle and all the rest is that they were built to keep people out. This castle is built to keep people in."
The above quote is from "The Last Castle", but I think it needs to be true of our churches today. The 4 points are very valid, but what if we looked at them like this:
1. Location-Church isn't a place, it is wherever believers are. We ARE the Church and we need to be seen by the world as far as the eye can see. This isn't a pride thing, it's an obedience to God thing.2. Protection-We don't need thick walls, we need thick skin and forgiving hearts. We need to offer protection for all who seek it in the name of Jesus.3. Garrison-We need Men and Women of God who are strong in their faith, who know scripture, and who will diligently pray unceasingly.4. Flag-Our flag is the salvation of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, we need to fly the banner high and NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT FROM US.
Let's get to building THAT kind of castle. WE are all in this together! Amen.
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