by Dr. Walter L. Wilson
ZERUBBABEL
not only made a place in his heart, but also in the entire community, for the Saviour. He wanted a place where God’s name could be exalted. Zerubbabel wanted those who worked with him to have the same opportu nity and privilege. He longed that they might have the same dedication and devotion he had experienced. How beautiful that he had found himself at home among God’s peo ple! That should be readily true of us. The world has nothing to offer as an encouragement for our trials and temptations. Seek for God’s saints. If you don’t belong to a group of Christians who love our Lord, His Word, and are looking for His soon return, get acquainted with some now, as soon as possible. This way you’ll get to know Him better. You know, “birds of a feather flock to gether.” If you’re truly His, you’ll want to be among God’s people. One time I drove my car beside a pasture farm where there were all kinds of animals to be seen. There were ducks, geese, chickens, pigs, colts, calves; quite a mixture of young creatures were combined with the older ones. I wondered how they knew to whom they belonged. So I tapped on the car horn, and all of the babies ran to their own mothers. The ducks didn’t go to the chickens, nor the colts to the cows. They all went to their own. That’s the way it should be with us as Christians. We should want to be with others who know and love the Lord. It’s also important to realize that people know what you are by the company you keep! Tht Bible reminds us that we know we have passed from death unto life because we love the breth ren. We love to be with others who
H ave you ever taken the time to study the Old Testament person ality, Zerubbabel? He was born in captivity down in Babylon, under very unhappy circumstances and con ditions. Some of the lessons we learn from him are really wonderful as they are found in Ezra, chapter 2. While he was born in obscurity and among strangers, Zerubbabel came back to Jerusalem, bringing a lot of others with him (Ezra 2:2). The first lesson is that the Lord wants us to return to Him. If you have drifted away and turned your back on God, now is the time to change. Chances are you can bring others along with you. In Ezra 3:1, we find that Zerub babel built an altar unto the Lord. What a wonderful thing for which to be remembered! The burnt offer ing is a type of the Lord Jesus as He was offered for us. Everything about this sacrifice was burnt up. God not only wants your money and your time; He wants you, yourself! Christianity is wrapped up in a Per son, the lovely Lord Jesus. If you don’t know Him you’ll suffer eternal separation from Him in hell. Zerub babel wanted to make sure that everything was right between him and God. This should be our earnest desire as well. Everything this Old Testament saint had belonged to his Redeemer. In Ezra 5:2, we find that the next thing he did was to build the house of God. He wasted no time in get ting busy doing the right things. When Zerubbabel started to live for God, others saw the proof that he was God’s child. It’s always the next step to desire fellowship and com munion with Him. This dear man
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