Ezekiel 36:34-36 (NIV): The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’
God’s people give up far too easily. There are many Christians today who have simply given up on the world. They believe (many have been taught) that the world is too evil, too broken, too dysfunctional to save; that all they can do is to lie low, hang on, and wait for Jesus to come back and rescue them.
But where do they get this hopeless, fruitless theology? Not from God’s word! God has not yet given up on the world or on the people in it. (You can tell, because He has not yet sent Jesus back!) And God’s people have no business despairing or giving up until God Himself does. Instead, God is working even today, everywhere His people live and play and shop, to bring life to those long dead; to bring light to the deepest, darkest pits; to rebuild what is lying in ruins; to save those who look like lost causes.
Our God is the Lord. His arm is not shortened, nor is His power less than it was when he called the universe out of nothing. When God gave the above promises to His people through His servant, Ezekiel, they were not for that time only. God can still make the desolate land flourish; the spiritual wastelands brim over with eternal life; those who look like hopeless cases come running with joy into the gates of the kingdom. He can still remake the desert into the garden of Eden, giving new life to dry bones, and make those who have lost the vision and given in to despair into His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. (1 Peter 2:9) God can still rebuild the fallen and destroyed city out of the dust and ashes, and can recreate it as the New Jerusalem, the City of God.
With man this is all impossible. But to God, NOTHING is impossible. But if we, as God’s people, want to see these promises become a reality, we must believe so strongly the truth of these promises that we stand up, gird our loins, and get involved. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt according to God’s promise, but they were rebuilt by people who saw the vision through the words of Nehemiah, and who believed that God could do the work through them to accomplish all that He had promised. In 52 days, all the work was done. And God’s hand was seen as the mover and empowerer of the work, so much so that even the enemies of God’s people “realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” (Nehemiah 6:16)
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV) God will remake what has been destroyed, and build up what has been broken down. He will act through His people if we will only put ourselves on the front line, and He will make His Church flourish like the very garden of God.
Father, what amazing promises! Lord, help us to trust You in all of this, to turn wholly to You. To get off of our faces, to regain our hope and our vision, and to move boldly forward in Your strength, and at Your direction, to rebuilt Your Church and Your world. Amen.