“We are surrounded!” These have to be the worst words that can be heard by soldiers. Christians are, in a sense, soldiers, since we are commanded to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim.6:12); and, we are surrounded. We are surrounded by a world that is falling apart financially, physically, and morally. We are surrounded by politicians that are going to fix it. We are surrounded by our own failing circumstances at times – failing health, failing finances, failing families, failing relationships, failing endeavors, failing righteousness. There are people that like us (when we are likeable, which isn’t all the time), there are people that hate us, and there are people that wish we would just shut up about our faith, our hope, our eternal life, and our Master, King Jesus. Are there not more of those days lately, when you just want to slap the alarm clock off, roll over, pull the warm blanket over your head, and sleep? Should we run from all of these things?
Nehemiah, an Old Testament leader of the Jews found himself surrounded by threats one day, as we do today. Following the exile of the Jews in Babylon, many returned to Israel and Jerusalem to rebuild, and the Persian King Artaxerxes, gave Nehemiah, his personal attendant, the privilege of being the governor of Jerusalem. Upon arrival, Nehemiah found that this blessing was a “mixed bag,” because there were great obstacles to overcome in order to rebuild the walls of the city, there were enemies everywhere that did not want the Jews to rebuild the walls of the city, and there was corruption already in Jerusalem among the returned exiles. The enemies of the Jews tried to discourage the rebuilding of the walls by force, but it did not work; Nehemiah prepared his workers to fight, and the enemies backed down. Then in Nehemiah 6, the enemies once again tried to destroy Nehemiah, this time in peaceful manipulation, but Nehemiah would not go to the “peace talks”, but instead continued working. The final try to destroy Nehemiah’s credibility as a leader came in the same chapter.
He was in the home of Shemaiah, who we assume was a priest, and Shemaiah tried to convince Nehemiah that the enemies were going to assassinate him and that he should hide in the temple. Not only was it unlawful for Nehemiah to enter the temple, since he was not a priest, but a fearful retreat into the temple would have completely discredited him as a leader to the people of the city. Instead of succumbing to this temptation to run, Nehemiah responded to Shemaiah,
“Should such a man as I flee?”
What type of man was Nehemiah, and are there any similarities in his life and the lives of Christians today?
First, Nehemiah was a Representative of the King. The King of the Persian empire, which ruled the known world, had sent him to govern over Jerusalem, and Nehemiah was essentially saying, “Should a King’s man run for fear? I have the authority and support of the King!” Christians, you, too, are representatives of the King of kings and Lord of lords; you have His authority, command, and support to carry on with the mission. Should such representatives run for fear of the surrounding enemies? Paul asked, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Our King’s authority is greater than any potentate, our King’s command is more far-reaching than any leader’s, and our King’s power is greater than any power in existence.
Secondly, Nehemiah was a Leader of a good work. Christian leaders, please don’t back down now. We are servants in the greatest army in all of creation, the army of God. Godly parents and grandparents, godly school teachers, godly politicians, godly athletic coaches, and godly pastors and church workers, yes, we are surrounded, but we are leaders in a good work – a work that will change the world and a work that cannot fail. We are leaders in the work of telling the world that Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, can save them from their sins and save them from the punishment for those sins if they will trust Jesus to do this and ask Him to do it. This is the Gospel work – keep fighting the good fight of faith!
And lastly, he was an Encourager to the people that saw him. If he had run in fear, the Jews that were building would have also feared the enemies, but because Nehemiah stood firm in faith, the people stood firm in faith. You may not be a visible Christian leader, but if you run in fear, my Christian brother or sister, then those around you will be negatively impacted by your fear. They will see your lack of faith, and lose or decline faith themselves. But when they see your faith, they will “glorify your Father in heaven;” they, perhaps, will believe also.
Stonewall Jackson once said to Captain John Imboden, “Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.” (Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25)
