Walls, Trowels, and Swords

Words well-fashioned fascinate me.
I have no idea who wrote the following statement, but it is one of my favorites – “We are called to be heirs of the past, architects of the future, and guardians of the present.”
The 17th & 18th verses of the 4th chapter of Nehemiah provide a clear illustration of people fulfilling the challenge to be heirs, architects, and guardians. These scriptures describe a group of men who accepted the task of completing the re-construction of Jerusalem’s city walls. Each man took his place on the wall working with a trowel in one hand and holding a sword in the other. The wall was their inheritance from their past. With a trowel they formed their future and with a sword they guarded their present.
Like it or not, we all inherit things from the past. Many are privileged to be heirs of walls that stand strong and secure … to have been born surrounded by the strength and security of true Christian faith and a loving family. But many more have inherited walls that are incomplete, broken, or unstable. Christ is just a swear-word and their family is characterized by conflict, neglect, abuse, and division.
Nehemiah’s compatriots refused to allow their inheritance to become their legacy. They made it their personal responsibility to change the worthless condition of their wall. These men used the trowel to produce strength and beauty. Great things don’t just appear on their own. They are the product of purpose and planning, leadership and labor, diligence and determination. There are no shortcuts to excellence.
Every gain must be guarded. There is no shortage of those who are inspired to tear down what others have built up. The sword of defense must be a constant companion. The enemy of our soul despises all that is righteous and holy; defiles all that is pure and innocent; dishonors all that is true and trustworthy; denigrates all that is obedient and faithful; and discourages all that is fair and good. Satan is a destroyer. An unguarded wall is his dream and an unarmed worker is his dinner.
Trowels and swords turn the enemy’s dinner into the enemy’s defeat! God promises me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! My well-used trowel is changing my world, fashioning my future and my establishing my legacy. My faithful sword is protecting all that He is doing in me, for me, and through me.And my sons are on the wall … with their trowels and swords.

Wipe Your Feet at the Door

Muddy shoes are a pain-in-the-neck! Especially when they are on the feet of people who show up at the door of our home. Our off-white carpets don’t accept footsteps from dirty shoes without letting everyone know about it. We “encourage” our guests not to track in to our house the dirt they have collected somewhere else.
The Bible tells us that Jesus sent His disciples to visit the communities of Israel. Jesus equipped each disciple with authority to defeat the works of Satan. The Apostles were instructed to declare a message of hope. Jesus also offered the following advice; “If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” (Matthew 10:14).
Shaking off village dust was symbolic of shaking off the attitudes and responses of those who rejected the message. The dirt that had to go also represented the hurt feelings and frustrations that the disciples would likely experience. Jesus apparently saw the danger of allowing these kinds of feelings to remain attached.
Unmet expectations and offense can cling to your spirit like mud to your shoes. It is natural to feel stood up when expectations don’t show up. It is easy to equate rejection of the message with rejection of the messenger. When your words are ignored and your attempts to help are despised, the pain is intense. Feelings become reality; sunshine becomes rain; and you are left standing in mud.
The Lord does not want you to remain in the place of rejection. There are other places and opportunities that God has prepared you for. Move on. New faces and places will, however, demand leaving behind the dirt and dust of old unwelcome experiences.
There are new doors that await your knock; however, before you arrive, you may need to ask the Holy Spirit to shake you, especially your feet! The impact of the disrespect, accusations, and insults that were hurled at you must be left behind. Getting rid of the mud of hurt may take several sessions of vigorous shaking. Like a sole’s treads, so a soul’s wounds provide an ideal place for the mud of offense to stick and stay. It will take determination and it may take time.
There is a new door just ahead. So check your shoes!