Returning to His plan
-Teaching Series of The Book of Ezra-
“In the first year of Cyrus King of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put in writing:
“ This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you – may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem”
Ezra 1: 1 – 3
Let me present to you a phenomenal event in human history and a touching story about how a group of people returned to their God! In the time of Ezra, the scattered and exiled nation of Israel made her way home to Jerusalem to rebuild the ruins of the Temple of the Lord. Nowadays, God calls us to do the same—to rebuild our lives in His plan. If your life has drifted away from God’s presence lately, hurry back to Him because the Lord is waiting for you! This is our comfort that we could return to Him today!
1. The Lord does not procrastinate!
Do you know that the Lord just can't wait to fullfil all his promises for us? God actually took the initiative and moved the heart of king Cyrus—the king of Persia to whose country the Israelites had been exiled—to begin the fulfillment of His Word right in the first year of the king’s reign. His eager desire to fulfill His plan for His children is as immediate as our desire to return to it. He will not wait for the second year to restore us; He doesn’t delay till the following day. Today, if we respond to His call, the Lord will anoint and build our lives once again! So, stop escaping His plan. Start entering.
2. The Lord does not panick!
Dealing with any ruin is not an easy job; moreover, attempting to restore it back to its previously beautiful state seems humanly impossible. The Lord’s message for us here is that we should not weary ourselves down with too many concerns as we return to His plan. Nothing is difficult for Him. He never panicks. Yes, Ezra and the Israelites had to bear a tough, plan—carries a pricetag. But we need to just do it, not only because it is the right thing to do, but the Lord will surely help us!
For all of us who haven’t exited His presence and purpose, let us never pull ourselves out of His plan for whatever reason and no matter how difficult life could be. Somehow, it is still much safer for us to abide His plan—though nothing is happening—than to get lost in our own way. No matter how far we are from God’s best plan, on any given day, steadily returning to it is far better than shiftly running further from it. Every obedient step we make towards it is the most worthwile effort—every step a miracle. Though still seems distant, we can be sure that He will be right there waiting patiently for us to arrive. So, do not panick because the Lord doesn’t. Just keep walking home!
Welcome home,
Philip Mantofa
