Cap That Well!

Some people may be aware of a leak of disaster proportions. For weeks and weeks we've heard about the toxic, harmful oil spewing into our oceans. Unfortunately, there's a more overlooked leak that has been spilling out for longer than weeks. Actually, it's being spilling, spewing, and spurting for years and years. This leak also spews harmful toxins. You, have been directly influenced by these toxins. You have spread these toxins.

There's no way that we can escape the news of the oil leak in the gulf, and as I sat thinking about the leak, I was reminded of something that seems somewhat similar. We have a similar problem in our lives. Every day words flow from out mouth, spreading toxins, harming those around us. The flow, often unhindered, out into the air, where the can never be retrieved. There's a bigger problem there though than just dangerous and hurtful words coming out of our mouths.

Matthew 12:34 says, "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Hurtful words flowing from our mouths point to a more serious problem, a heart problem. Often this is a lack of love or an exhibition of our own selfishness. When we say harmful, mean, stupid things, it's pointing to a heart problem. We can't just focus on not saying those things. We must examine our heart, and work to change it with God's help. Imagine what it would be like if all the people in the Gulf were doing was cleaning up the oil from the ocean, but no one tried to stop the leak. It would be a full-time pointless task, because they weren't trying to fix the source of the problem. It's the same way with our words. If you are finding it hard to say nice thing about that annoying co-worker, or to not spread the juicy gossip that you heard at church last Sunday, try fixing the source of the problem, the heart.

A Story about a Man and a Wall...

There once was a guy named Nehemiah. He was a pretty good guy, with a pretty good job. Nehemiah worked for the king. One day Nehemiah got word that the walls that once surrounded his homeland were broken down and the gates had been destroyed by fire. When Nehemiah heard this, his heart was broken and he wept. After discussing the matter with his boss, the king, Nehemiah got permission to return to his homeland, for a time, in order to rebuild the walls.

You may have heard this story before, you may have not. Whatever the case may be, the story of Nehemiah has been one that has fascinated me for awhile now. I am currently re-reading through the book, and there is so much that God is showing me. However, today I was reading from chapter six. As soon as Nehemiah and the others started rebuilding the wall, the people around them started to "oppose the work." Opposition came, yet the work on rebuilding the wall continued. When the opposition could not stop the rebuilding of the wall, they tried another tactic. They decided that they would just attack Nehemiah.

Can you imagine what this must have been like for Nehemiah? What an exhausting and emotional drain this would have been on him. First he finds out that his homeland is in need of help, so he goes to help them, only to find strong opposition. Then he has to chastise his own people for their opression of the poor, and on top of this, the guy is coordinating a massive construction project. All of that is enough to make him weak. While this is speculation, I would venture to say that Nehemiah was probably at one of his weakest points during this time. Then, it is at this point, that the opposition started to personally attack Nehemiah.

You can read in chapter six of Nehemiah what they tried to do, and how Nehemiah would not fall for their traps, but finally, in verse nine, Nehemiah says, "For [the opposition] wanted to freighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will drop from their work, and it will not be done.'" The whole point of the opposition was to distract Nehemiah and the Israelites from completing the task assigned to them by the Lord.

That happens to us so often in life. God has given us a task to complete, yet we are attacked from all sides. Sometimes the attacks are more personal than others, but the purpose of those attacks is to distract us from the work to which we are called. I love what Nehemiah says at the end of verse nine. "But now, O God, strengthen my hands." Nehemiah was weak and tired, and he was still being attacked. So, he cried out to God, "Strengthen my hands."

So, learn a lesson from Nehemiah. Persevere through the trials and temptations. Be prepared, for when you are at your weakest point, you will still be attacked. Most importantly, make sure you are not facing them on your own. Nehemiah knew where his strength came from. Know where your strength comes from and cry out to God, for that strength.

The story doesn't stop with Nehemiah crying out to God. In chapter 12 of the same book we see that the wall is being dedicated. That means the task was completed! Nehemiah did his part, he was strenghtened by God, and the task was completed. If you read those verses, Nehemiah shares about what people were present at the dedication of the temple, and what they did, but I love the line at the end of verse forty-three. "And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away." The result of the completion of the task was joy and thanks to God. Not only was joy heard in Jerusalem where the people had completed the task, but the joy was heard far away. The completion of the task was felt in more than one place. When we persevere and complete the tasks God gives us, others will know. God's name will be glorified, for He is the source of our strength.