Moment in the Word

Ezra 3:11-12 "And they answered each other with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, saying, For it is good, for his mercy to Israel endures forever. And all the people shouted with a loud voice to praise the Lord at the laying the foundation of the house of the Lord. 12 But many of the priests and the Levites, and the elder men, heads of families, who had seen the former house on its foundation, and who saw this house with their eyes, wept with a loud voice: but the multitude shouted with joy to raise a song." (Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

As Nehemiah and Ezra helped with the revival that restored Jerusalem after seventy years of Babylonian captivity, the people expectantly waited for the Holy Temple to be rebuilt on its foundation.

When the building was finally completed, the younger generation enthusiastically rejoiced to see God's new sanctuary. However, the old people wept because the building did not have the same glory as Solomon's magnificent temple that they remembered from their childhood.

Regardless, the entire multitude "answered each other" by singing a song of worship, thanking God for His perpetual faithfulness.

Today, we are standing on the threshold of an awakening as God begins ministering to the youth of Generation Z (born: 1995-2010) and Generation Alpha (born: 2010-present) at Kentucky's Asbury College Chapel. More importantly, the spiritual revival is now spreading across America to other schools and universities.

While the youth are elated to experience a personal outpouring of God's Spirit, some older people stand on the margins speculating whether the current revival is as relevant as what they knew in their former days. Sadly, these jaded individuals are characteristic of the dubious spectators who wept to see the unveiling of Nehemiah and Ezra's restored temple.

However, to appreciate God's never-ending faithfulness, let us remember that revivals are meant to impact one life at a time as God intimately reveals Himself rather than being indiscriminately slathered on entire crowds like a coat of paint! Also, keep in mind that God has never moved without the presence of naysayers questioning the reality of the event. The skeptics were present on the banks of Jordan when John baptized. The doubters stood shoulder to shoulder with Christ as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. But God is not hampered in what He does for eager participants by the limitations of someone else's miserly faith.

Consider the sower who went out to plant - Matthew 13:3-9, "Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear!"

Unfortunately, three-fourths of the good seed was initially lost. But one-fourth of the planting grew and was abundantly productive, compensating for the part that was wasted. Praise God, "better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked!" Psalms 37:16 Thus, all this country needs is an opportunity for God to move among those who are called to salvation!

Rather than the intransigent Church worrying about the flickering glow of moldering foxfire on rotten bark, let us all agree to pray for a hot spark of God's Holy Spirit that will set the dead wood ablaze!

As in the days of Ezra, instead of weeping for what has been lost while our children expectantly rejoice for the possibility of what might yet happen, let us answer them with praise and thanksgiving for the Lord's faithfulness and joyfully raise our voices together, "Revive us again, Oh Lord! Revive us again!"

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:13-14

So, why not here... and why not now escape the seventy years of our fruitless Babylonian captivity by yielding to the promised hope of God's revival?