Living Higher

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. (Zechariah 1:7) For some reason, this time, the exact date matters. Not only that but the name of the month also matters. Why? Well, the name refers to the rains that often come in that month in that region, as the ground is 'struck' by the torrents of water. It is also the month when some trees first come into flower, almost as if we are to imagine Zechariah walking through the rain and seeing a flowering tree, and then God speaks. It is undoubtedly true that God speaks through our everyday experiences, stopping us in our tracks in wonder at the beauties around us, and telling us of his glory, the glory of the one behind it all. Something a little like this happened to me as I walked across the Galata Bridge in Istanbul just last week. I looked up and saw the enormous bulk of the Hagia Sofia on t...

The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do (Zechariah 1:6) In The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment (1954 - https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/churchman/073-02_055.pdf), CS Lewis argues that the only way to safely punish someone was because they deserved it. It is typical of Lewis - brilliantly insightful and prophetic in its longevity - but it has sadly failed to sway the culture. Being right doesn't always win people over. We don't even talk of punishment any more in school but of 'consequences', and certainly don't think of it as deserved but rather as useful to change behaviour. There is much good in this, especially for teachers, some of whom seemed to enjoy meeting out discipline - at least that's my recollection - but it creates a culture where it is seen as wrong to punish and where no one (well except for the 'monsters' of some 'red-top' newspapers) deserves to suffer for their actio...

Then they repented (Zechariah 1:6) Here's the great hope for humanity and the church - 'then they repented'. John brought a 'baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins'. Jesus told his hearers to 'repent and believe the good news'. Peter told the crowds to 'repent and be baptised, every one of you'. Paul writes that 'the goodness of God leads you to repentance'.  Without repentance there is no good news but without bad news there is no repentance. No one can turn from their rebellion against God unless they become aware that they are a rebel, and how will they become aware? By the inner convection of the Spirit, for sure, but also by the outward knowledge of their sin too. But what does the modern world say the best way to deal with our wayward minds and failed lives? To face up to our own sinfulness? Of course not. The modern world offers a gospel of salvation without sin and repentance. Accept yourself as you really are, it says, and...

And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? (Zechariah 1:5-6) I missed this at first. Why does God remind them that the prophets are gone just like their ancestors? I think it is because it is God's words that 'overtook' - like a racing tsunami - their ancestors not the prophets. It is God and His word that lasts, that did the damage, for the prophets are gone. God did it, by His word. I have been confused and surprised recently by how easily our leaders have been deceived. They seem to be wilfully acting contrary to God's plain decrees, and yet be confident, almost proud, of their wisdom. How can that be? But there it was, written in plain sight: 'wilfully'. Our first step if we wish to know the mind of Christ is to align our will with His words, not to try and align His words with our will. Whatever is the plain teaching of scripture, we must choose to accept,...

Where are your ancestors now? (Zechariah 1:5) Well, dead, really. I mean what else can we say. Two certainties in life are death and taxes, as one whit wrote. But I don't think that what he means. It is more like, where are the results of their lives? What is their legacy? And the answer is: lying in dust and ashes. The nation they built has been decimated and desecrated. All they did is gone. I wonder if, after all the hype and hope of the leaders of the Church of England, this will be the prophetic word to them in 30 years time. All churches that have taken a similar decision, all those leaders that have taken their flock down this route, all, worldwide, are, slowly but surely, disappearing.  Congregations shrinking, buildings closing, some due to inherited wealth holding on, others less fortunate going faster. Maybe someone has already come to a them and said 'Where are your ancestors now?' If not, don't hold your breath.

But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the  Lord . (Zechariah 1:4) I know how he feels. I taught teenagers for a while and even the best of teachers wonders occasionally if anyone is listening. As I wouldn't pretend to be among the best of teachers, I know more than a little of how God feels. And somehow that matters. When others ignore us, or reject us, or simply overlook us, it hurts, but there is this one compensation: for a brief moment we have a vague hint of what it is like for God when we ignore, reject or overlook Him. And we do it all the time. His great song of love to his creation is not just a song of hope but a song of sorrow. 'Where are you?' He calls, but all too often we're just not listening. 

But they would not listen (Zechariah 1:4) I am reading the biography of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot. If you haven't heard of Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur then you probably should - she was one if the great missionary figures of the late 19th century, dedicating her life to the Lord and to the gospel to the exclusion of all personal interest.  As I read I am struck by the effectiveness of her ministry. From her first stumbling attempts among the factory girls of Cumbria to her even more stumbling attempts with the 10-day week workers in Japan, people seem to flock to her meetings. And she does nothing clever, no tricks to get them in, just a personal invitation, some good choruses and a clear bible-based gospel message. With Amy they would listen. So why does it seem that with us they won't.  Have we forgotten to trust solely in the power of God to save? As Amy puts it "We have no time to toy with souls like this. It is not by ceremonial teamaking and flower arranging...