Where would one even start? Disaster, destruction, and debris lies everywhere you look. It has the appearance of a bomb having gone off in there!

No. I am not referring to your teenager’s bedroom or your “man-cave” at home. ☺ I am speaking of the glorious city of God, the City of David, the place where Yahweh would meet with His people. Jerusalem—the Holy City 140 years after the deadly and devastating final attack of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Weeds grew tall amongst the rubble of what were once stately homes, palaces for royalty, and courtyards for worship. It literally looked like a bomb had gone off in there!

“The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and it gates burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3

So how does one begin? What is the first step in what is obviously going to end up being a long journey? Where do you start? And the greatest “destruction” observed was not the houses and walls, but the devastation of lives. The walls of faith had fallen into total disrepair! Where does one begin?

The road map to restoration follows “Highway C.” Unlike your Google Map, it does not suggest alternative routes—only one way.

• Concern: When the “walls” of protection have come down, someone needs to notice and care.
• Conviction: When lives have fallen apart, one must believe that He who has called and created is still powerful enough to rebuild.
• Confession: A page from the Adam/Eve playbook of life suggests that one start by pointing the finger at others, but rebuilding begins when even the LEAST offender owns her/his share of the guilt.
• Confidence: While most will conclude that a life is too far gone, that the offenses are too great to be forgiven, that the rebuilding of such a squandered life is just too great a task, someone must declare their belief that with God, ALL things are possible!
• Commitment: There is no greater leader than that man/woman who, rather than stand on the sidelines and direct, critique, and control, chooses to put some personal skin into the game. Behold the power of example. The sweat equity of rebuilding lives.

Where would one even start? Disaster, destruction and debris lies everywhere you look. It has the appearance of a bomb having gone off in there!

The operative word is “one.” “Where would ONE start?”

Behold, the power of ONE! Are YOU ready to be the one?

See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom