Whatcha' Doin'?

The overall theme of the Bible is about God’s passion to keep His people in a close relationship with Him and He has gone to extraordinary lengths to make that possible. Even though God made a covenant in the Old Testament with His people and demonstrated His love in many ways, they wandered off the path like sheep that didn't want to follow their shepherd. They didn’t seem interested in keeping the relationship going. Still, God kept trying to bring them back to Him. The way God’s people behaved then and the way you and I behave now, makes one wonder why God didn’t just forget about this project a long time ago rather than make all that effort to bring us back to Himself. The point is, that a relationship with God requires effort, not just on God’s part, but on ours. It is a two-way relationship and God has come toward us more than half way. So, my questions for you are, “Whatcha doin'? How far have you come?” When I began to study the chapters in Zachariah, I really didn’t see how I could ever make sense out of them or even write a blog about them. But as I read and prayed, I began to see that these passages are rich in images and truth. The only problem I have now is how to share it with you in 4 short paragraphs! But, I want to challenge you to take a radical, new step towards growth.

Regardless of how far you have wandered away, regardless of how messed up your life is, regardless of how weak and inadequate you feel you are, God has a recipe for transformation and renewal. Some of you are struggling with challenges. You may feel like you are spinning your wheels in ruts you can’t get out of. You may be going through deep waters that threaten to drown you. You may feel like (as I have on many occasions) that you are surrounded by so many filthy, violent, and desperate people you don’t know where to turn. You may feel trapped in some kind of secret sin that you can’t let go of. I don’t know what you are up against, but whatever your challenges are, the verses in Zachariah offer hope. The first thing to remember is that even though it may not seem like it, God is looking out for you. By that I don’t mean that you will always find a parking space at the mall when you need one or that you will never have a bad hair day. That is not what this is about. We all know that God does provide for us in unexpected and undeserved ways. If I asked for your testimonies about unexpected blessings you have received, several of you would have something to say. But the picture I’m painting today is bigger than that. As the description of Jerusalem begins to unfold in Zachariah Chapter 12, it sounds at first like bad things are going to happen: heavy stones, frightened horses, flaming torches. But with each one, some action is added that makes clear that God will save and protect his people, making it possible to live victoriously in the midst of turmoil and threats. God looks out for his us. These verses assure us that when God has a plan, He will carry it through. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. When He offers victory, He means it. Regardless of the circumstances of our lives,  we can be assured that God will carry out his purposes. As Zachariah says in Chapter 12:8, the Lord will shield His people so that even the most feeble among them shall be like King David. That is more than we could humanly hope for. And Rom. 8:31 says, "If God is for us, who is against us?" That is the first thing to remember. God looks out for his people and He is looking out for you. Have you claimed that promise? 

The second thing to remember is that we don’t measure up to God’s standards, so we need to face up to our sin and repent. I have talked with people who know they have violated God’s intentions for them and they are ready to recognize it, repent, and let God change them. I have talked with others whose sin is as plain as the nose on their face, but they maintain they have done nothing wrong in God’s eyes. They say they are as good or better than anyone else. But as we all know, God doesn’t ask us to compare ourselves with the guy next to us. It is God’s standard that counts. Through the prophet Zechariah, God reminds us to face up to our shortcomings and recognize sin for what it is. When you read these verses, you can detect an underlying tone of sorrow and sadness. Something has gone awry. In Chapter 12:10, for example, we read about weeping bitterly and mourning. What is that about? It is a recognition that the way people have treated the God of the universe should cause them to weep because of their sins and wrong doings. We don’t know what the historical circumstance is behind verse 10 when it says, "When they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him." Scholars have all kinds of theories about martyrs, assassinations, and betrayals. Whatever it was, the people of Israel had messed up in a big way. And so have we. But the sadness about our sin gives way to healing and hope. No amount of weeping alone can remove our sin. It takes a supernatural act of God to cleanse us from sin. Right after the verses about mourning, we read in Zachariah 13:1 that a fountain shall be opened to cleanse us from sin and impurity. If there is anything the human heart needs, it is forgiveness of sin and cleansing of our stained souls. And once again, even though Zechariah couldn’t have known, God had a plan to make it possible through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Weeping over our sins is not a sign of weakness. It is the first step toward wholeness. And when Jesus came, he opened a fountain, permanently available, to wash away our sins. The thing to do with our sin and wrong doing is to face up to it and repent and accept God’s cleansing. That is why the Bible commands baptism, to symbolize God’s cleansing. And if you haven’t taken that step, God is calling. God not only looks out for us, He invites us to repent.

As I read on in verse 7, I asked why would God want his sheep to be scattered? Why would God put his people through hardship? It didn't register with me. And why would He end up with only a portion of the total number? The answer is found verse 9 where we read about the testing and refining of silver and gold. And in order to accomplish that, these kinds of precious metals need to go through the fire. Usually we think of fire as a bad thing. But, in the Bible, being put into the fire is not always bad. Remember the three friends of Daniel who were put into the fiery furnace? As the gospel song says, They didn’t bend, they didn’t bow, they didn’t burn. But they were in the fire. And Zechariah compares spiritual trials to the way gold and silver get refined. Not everyone responds the same to fiery trials. You have probably known people, who, when they experienced hardship, became bitter and may have even turned against God. And you probably have known others who became more thoughtful, humble, and repentant.  James 1 says, "Whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance and leads to maturity. Finally, the third thing to remember is that God wants to refine us, to make us pure like precious gold. Don’t let anyone tell you that following Jesus is a piece of cake. Yes, God provides blessings in abundance, but once you set your feet on the path of obedience and discipleship, you will likely run into challenges and obstacles and temptations that you didn’t know were possible. You will be tested. You will be tried. Does anyone reading this blog know what I mean? One of the most comforting Bible passages I’ve found is Isaiah 43:1-3. God knows what He is doing. He knows what we can take. In I Cor. 10:13, He has promised not to test us beyond what we are able to bear. God will not drop us or abandon us. He invites us to repent, to be refined, and renewed.  So my challenge to you is, get back in the game even if you have drifted due to laziness, being uninterested, too busy with daily tasks, overwhelmed by problems, because you were overcome by some sin, etc. It's never too late to repent, pray for strength, and return to your Father.  Make the remainder of this year one closer with God by reading and  studying His Word, growing spiritually, and gratefully doing His will. 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-