You know, I decided today to give some air time to one of the OT’s prophets.  These guys had thankless jobs, usually telling their country that God was about to destroy them for their sin.  Even now in church they are seldom read/spoken of, which is a shame because God has a lot to teach us from them.  The beauty of living in this day and age, on this side of the cross, is that we can look anywhere in the Bible, and find Jesus there.  Every Word of the Bible is an encouragement because it does two things:  It first gives us a picture of who God is for our joy, and secondly instructs us in how we should live, so that we may have peace amidst life’s struggles.  So today, we’re going to jump into the book of Zechariah, to see what God has for us there.

Zechariah 1:3 – “Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.”

Zechariah, a prophet of God, was calling Israel to repent of their sinning against the Lord.  You know often times I find that people who are unrepentantly sinning ultimately do come to a place of remorse, but seldom real repentance.  Alcoholics do not desire to deal with the consequences of their sin, so they “feel bad” and vow not to drink anymore.  Adulterers do not desire to deal with the consequences of their sin, so they “feel bad” and vow not to cheat on their wives or husbands again.  Gossips do not desire to deal with the consequences of their sin, so they “feel bad” and vow to try to do better.  What’s the problem with this?  Turning away from the physical manifestations of sin is not repentance.  God doesn’t care if you stop sinning on the outside, because He still sees what’s in your heart.

God passionately desires for true repentance of those who are far from Him and the difference is all about where you’re running to not where you’re running from.  True repentance involves a turning away from sin, and towards God.  The person who focuses on “stopping sinning”, is the same frustrated person that finds him/herself stumbling over the same sin, over and over and over again.  I see many of these people in church on Sunday, and I have been there myself.  They try their hardest and they come up short.  They come up short because despite their genuine efforts, they have no power to change their heart, only God does.  This is why God doesn’t call us merely to “stop sinning”, He calls us to Himself.

Zechariah 1:12-17 – “¹²Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ ¹³And the LORD answeredgracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. ¹⁴So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. ¹⁵ And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. ¹⁶Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. ¹⁷Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'”

Look at the character of God here – gracious, comforting, exceedingly jealous for His people, exceedingly angry with those who would harm His children.  He loves you.  God cannot approach us any other way than in grace.  You cannot reach Him with good behavior, He cannot look past your sin.  We have nothing to offer, God must show mercy on us.  God’s promise to us, is that we are the temple of God – His Holy Spirit dwells in us.  In Christ, we have been credited a perfect righteousness, and we overflow with joy, knowing that He has secured for us a neverending future hope.

Have you tried “appeasing God” in your life?  Is there something that you’re waiting on to change before you draw near to God?  Have you tried making promises to yourself about how you’re going to change, but wonder why you’re caught in a neverending cycle?  Repentance is not about behavior change, it is about heart change, and you cannot move the inclination of your heart one degree.

So my exhortation here is this – look at the framework spoken of in Zechariah for reconciliation with God.  We come to God empty handed like children every day.  Draw near to God in prayer, earnestly asking that He would be gracious to you, and change your heart’s desire for Him.  We do not call upon a God that is apathetic, but One who is gracious, loving, comforting, and desirous that we would know Him, and delight in His glory.  With a boldness of faith through Christ’s blood shed for you on the cross, ask and earnestly seek that God would draw you close to Himself, and know that the promise of God through Christ is that He will – to the uttermost.

Hebrews 7:25 – “he (Christ) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Grace and Peace,
Adam