Focus: Two Sides Of Life

Text: Neh.4:18

"For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me."

Nehemiah's men face the task of rebuilding the broken walls of Jerusalem, but while they are at it, they also have enemies to keep at bay. This tells us that there are two sides to life: the side of building and the other side of battle. And it is important to know that you cannot focus on one and leave the other. God wants us to be conscious of life's battles even while we are busy building a future or investing in eternity. The Lord tells Jeremiah, "See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to ROOT OUT, and to PULL DOWN, and to DESTROY, and to THROW DOWN" - that is the battle side of life. The Lord also tells him "to BUILD, and to PLANT" (Jer.1:10) - that is the building side of life.

In life's battles God wants us to be fully armed, firmly standing our ground, defending our space and holding on to our God-given treasures. We must guard everything that we hold dear and sacred in Christ Jesus.

The enemy hates to see us build. He hates the fact that we are capable of and committed to mending broken things, repairing damaged lives, and rebuilding broken walls in Christ's kingdom. Our main job is to build, but we are not unaware of battles that are most likely to arise in the line of duty. The enemy often engages us in a needless fight in order to keep us from building. He raises dusts to distract us. We keep battling with issues that take our minds away from kingdom building. We get so lost in the forest that we fail to see the trees. The enemy keeps us from praying or doing anything that amounts to building.

How do we fight life's battles? Paul tells us, "Put on the armour of God, that ye may be able to STAND against… take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to WITHSTAND… having done all, to STAND. STAND therefore…" (Eph.6:11,13,14). All we do in the arena of battle is simply standing our ground and withstanding all foreign or strange invaders and marauders. Our divine armor is all defensive, except for "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." We set out to offend no one, but to defend and protect everything that God has put under our supervision and stewardship.

In this life there's no room for folding of hands. Our hands must be totally engaged in some worthy activity or venture.

"They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon" (Neh.4:17).

John says of Christ, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might DESTROY the works of the devil," and Matthew says, "And upon this rock I will BUILD my church…" (1Jh.3:8; Mt.16:18). These two Scriptures speak of the battle and building sides of life in the life of Jesus Christ. He fought and won, and He is still in the business of building His church.

On the battle side of life, Paul says to us, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…" (1Tim.6:12). Then he tells of himself, "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air." He goes on to say, "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus." And again, he says, "I have FOUGHT a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (1Cor.9:27; 15:32; 2Tim.4:7).

On the building side of life, Paul says, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a WISE MASTERBUILDER, I have laid the foundation, and another BUILDETH thereon. But let every man take heed how he BUILDETH thereupon… Now if any man BUILD upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble 1Cor.3:12." (1Cor.3:10,12). He says also, "…we do all things, dearly beloved, for your EDIFYING" (2Cor.12:19). In Eph.4:12, he says, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ." The word 'edifying' also means 'building.' We have an assignment from God to build. Jude says, "But ye, beloved, BUILDING UP yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 1:20). Nehemiah gives a stirring and an inspiring message, rallying the people to action. He says, "Let us rise up and BUILD. So they strengthened their hands for this good work" (Neh.2:18).

As we build, let us be battle ready; and as we fight, let us not quit building. Building and battling go hand in hand. We are busy builders and ready fighters. We have something to build and to fight for. While building, let us remain vigilant, and while fighting, let us not forget that we have a building project. Satan is not happy that we are involved in kingdom building. He has his agents everywhere, whose job is to pull down our building, and we cannot let them succeed. They cannot get our space nor slow our pace. Fortunately, our God is with us. We count on His presence and power. He gives us building grace and winning power.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter