By Pastor Greg
In autumn, the Indians asked their
Chief if it was going to be a cold winter. Not really knowing an answer, the Chief simply said that the winter was going to be cold and that the members of the village were
to collect wood to be prepared. However,
being a good leader, he then went to the phone booth, called the National
Weather Service, and asked, "Is this winter to be cold?" The man on the phone responded, "Yes, this
winter is going to be cold." So the
Chief went back to speed up his people and collect even more wood. A week later he called the National Weather
Service again, "Is it going to be a very
cold winter?" "Yes,"
the man replied, "it's going to be a very
cold winter." So the Chief
goes back to his people and orders them to go and gather every scrap of wood
they can find. Two weeks later he calls
the National Weather Service again, "Are you absolutely sure that the winter
is going to be *very* cold?" “Absolutely”
the man replies, “the Indians are collecting wood like crazy.”
That tribe of Indians had no idea
the effect they had on the world around them.
Honestly, I don’t think we understand this as well. I mean, do you ever think about this? Few people take the time to consider what influence their words or actions have on the
people around them. Few Christians are
aware how they are affecting the lives of others, yet Christians are making a
tremendous difference in this world. Do not take your ability to influence this
world lightly. You have more of an
impact than you imagine. Just consider
Nehemiah. He had an incredible impact on the people
of Jerusalem. By being a Servant Leader,
Nehemiah helped the people living in and around Jerusalem accomplish something
amazing.
Because of Nehemiah’s positive
influence, the people of Jerusalem took a pile of rubble and transformed it
into a fortified wall in just 52 days (see Nehemiah 6:15). Priests and Levites worked alongside government
officials. Temple servants worked with
the local merchants and artisans. Men
and women, people of all skill and trade,
came together and rebuilt this wall. And
their work, by the way, was not as shoddy as Tobiah the Ammonite claimed it
would be (“That
stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”
[1]
- Nehemiah 4:3). A portion of Nehemiah’s
2,500-year-old wall still stands today in
Jerusalem. This is what happens when
God’s people do God’s work God’s way.
Contrast Nehemiah’s influence with
that of Tobiah or Sanballat. To discourage
the people of Israel, they resorted to intimidation, trickery, lies, and
deception. Their only desire was to keep
Jerusalem in ruins. They did not want to
see the walls rebuilt. These two men,
along with Geshem the Arab, worked diligently to discourage the people of
Jerusalem, keeping them from rebuilding their city and restoring their
honor. Their tactics worked until Nehemiah came along, and suddenly
his influence turned the people around.
Nehemiah did not merely help
rebuild the wall. In the twelve years he
spent in Jerusalem as governor, he instituted many religious reforms. Once the two-month building project was
completed, Ezra returned to his teaching program, and Nehemiah called the
people to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Shelters. Revival had come to Judea, and Nehemiah’s
leadership sparked enthusiasm for God within the hearts of the population.
They even took an oath to uphold God’s commands
and had the leaders sign the document (Nehemiah 10:28-29). Glory, Hallelujah, Amen. Revival comes when God’s people do God’s work
God’s way.
We may be tempted to disregard
Nehemiah’s influence here, but truthfully, he had a greater impact than he imagined. You see, not long after he leaves, the spirituality
of the people begins to fade (read Nehemiah
13:1-12).
Once Nehemiah was gone, Eliashib gives
Tobiah a room WITHIN the Temple, opening
the door for his destructive behavior to take root and grow. Because of this, giving had stopped. Eliashib and the rest of the people in
Jerusalem tolerated the actions of a sinful man within their midst and giving decreased.
I know we could focus on the spiritual
laziness of the people. We could
criticize them for allowing someone to lead them away from their
commitment. Their faith was tossed
around like waves on the ocean. However,
I want to save that discussion for another day.
Instead, I wish to focus on the
positive influence Nehemiah had on the people.
While he was around, things happened.
“Strange, isn't it? Each man's
life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole,
doesn't he?”[2] The same thing could be said about you.
I don’t think you fully realize the
difference your godly influence has on
others. Jesus says, “You are the light of
the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who
are in the house. Let your light shine
before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father who is in heaven” [3]
(Matthew 4:14-16). I don’t believe Jesus
would have said these things unless He felt that we Christians could actually become a positive influence in this
world. For
some reason, the Lord Jesus calls us to let His light shine through us, even
though we are nothing more than fragile jars of clay (“We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure”
[4]
- 2 Corinthians 4:7). We are also
instructed to “Let
your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near” [5]
(Philippians 4:5). My friends, because
faith in Jesus has transformed us, we are, you are “royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own
possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called
you out of the darkness into his wonderful
light” [6]
(1 Peter 2:9).
“How
far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”[7] Do not take your ability to influence this
world lightly. You have more of an
impact than you imagine. Because of you,
the world understands the difference between right and wrong, good and
evil. Because of you, the world knows
what Love should look like. You just
don’t know the difference you are making in this world. This is what happens
when God’s people do God’s work, God’s way.
By stepping up and getting involved, the people
of your church are impacted by your faith.
Lives are changed because you had the courage to say, “I will. I will help”.
Christian, let you light shine.
You are guiding a wondering world back to God.
[1] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2007). Holy Bible: New Living
Translation (3rd ed.) (Ne 4:3). Carol Stream, IL.
[2] Clarence
the Angel, from It’s a Wonderful Life.
[3] New American
Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 5:14–16). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman
Foundation.
[4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd
ed.) (2 Co 4:7). Carol Stream, IL.
[6] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2007). Holy Bible: New Living
Translation (3rd ed.) (1 Pe 2:9). Carol Stream, IL.
[7] William
Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
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