Rest in God's Grace

Zerubbabel was a Jewish governor of Judea who came out of the Babylonian captivity and was used by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  Haggai and Zechariah were prophets and contemporaries of Zerubbabel who encouraged him in the work.  Great difficulties and obstacles were prevalent:  the busyness of the people in their own affairs, opposition of enemies, and even satanic attacks.  Zerubbabel had a massive task before him that loomed like an impassable mountain.  The foundation had been laid, but how would the work be completed?

In the face of great discouragement and his own inability to do the work, an angelic messenger said in Zechariah 4:6-9:  "So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. ⁷ 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ⁸ Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁹ "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you."  By the grace of God the immense job would be accomplished Zerubabbel could not finish by the might of Persia or the power of combined effort.  The Holy Spirit would turn mountains into a plain easily navigated.  God would see the capstone of the temple laid, and in that day it would confirm the truth of what the angel spoke.  God used Zerubbabel to complete this monumental task by His grace.

As we move into a new year there is always the temptation to lament past failures than rejoice in new beginnings.  It would be safe to say this year did not go according to the "plans" many had:  trips and holidays were cancelled as a pandemic swept across the globe, weddings and gatherings were impacted, the economy and jobs were negatively affected and social distancing restrictions imposed upon freedoms we took for granted.  In light of what has happened and all the work that still needs to be done, we might imagine our efforts to accomplish God's work is a waste of time.  On the contrary!  When God is doing the work by the power of the Holy Spirit, His grace is sufficient for all seasons.  Before God what appears to be insurmountable opposition is laid low when His people trust and obey Him.

Explorers have devised ways to conquer the highest peaks on the globe, yet only the Holy Spirit is able to make a mountain a plain by His grace.  Heavy equipment and dynamite have removed great swaths of stone and soil, but we cannot by hard labour be born again, forgiven from sins, or go to haven by our efforts:  it is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus this impossible transformation is done.  Paul wrote to believers in Philippians 1:3-7:  "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷  just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace."  Through faith in Jesus Christ we are blessed with the Holy Spirit by God's grace beginning to end.  Like Zerubbabel, may we be His faithful servants who rest in God's grace.