Life Be Life-ing But Jesus Be Jesus-ing

A few Sunday's ago I coined this phrase in a sermon to the church where I serve. It may be, perhaps, a turn of a phrase, but it is much more than that. When I use the phrase Life Be Life-ing But Jesus be Jesus-ing I am not trying to be cute or clever. I am trying to speak to the next generation about this great theological truth concerning the sovereignty of God in suffering. That is what that phrase means.

In Ezra we find the people of God rebuilding the house of God. It is amazing that it even started! They were under a pagan king, Cyrus, but God worked in this king to permit the start of the rebuilding process (Ezra 1:1ff). At a later time, however, another king, Artaxerxes, under political pressure, ordered that the work be stopped (Ezra 4:17ff). Then, out of boldness of another kind, Zeruabbabel and Jeshua started to rebuild out of zeal for the work of God without approval

(Ezra 5:1-2). What is powerful is not only that they started to rebuild, but what we are told in Ezra 5:5,

"But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the

report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it."

The eye of their God was on them! There it is. There is the reality and hope of the sovereignty of God in suffering: His eye is always on us. Yes, the adversaries were doing their thing, but so too was God. Life was Life-ing But Jesus was Jesus-ing!

The adversaries were so offended by this boldness that they sent word to king Darius to get him on their side, poking a little political pressure. But they could not have imagined what happened next. Not only could the work continue but blessings were about to flow. Not only was the house to be rebuilt but get this:

• Babylon was now going to pay for the house of God that the people tried to stop (6:4)

• The gold and silver taken by Nebuchadnezzar had to be returned to the house of God (6:5)

• The elders, now, were to be paid and that was coming from "from the royal revenue"! (6:8)

• Animals were given so the people of God could offer burnt offerings and pleasing sacrifices "to the God of heaven"; these were to be given, get this, "day by day without fail" (6:9,10)

• Darius, the king, even asked the people of God to pray for him (6:10)

• An warning was given that if anyone altered this edict he would be impaled on a beam from his own house! (6:11)

• Finally, king Darius may this starling statement: If any other king attempted to destroy this house of God, Darius said,

  
  

  "May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”

  
  

He basically said, "I am king Darius and I approve this building."

When things oppose you. When people rise up as your adversaries and work actively against you. When the host of hell sends an all out assault seeking to impede the building of the house of God - your soul - remember this story. Some may argue, "But that's the Old Testament! It is, but it still is your story too!

Christ is the fulfillment of the redemptive purpose of God throughout all ages. This means that what we read in the Old Testament is not some distant actions of God detached from our present understanding. In fact, what has happened in the Old Testament is the work of our Triune God and, therefore, in Christ, we can claim the actions of the God then, as being for us, now. Christ is the fulness of the deity. Therefore, the God of Ezra is the risen, reigning and ruling Christ. His eye is on you. He is, as Psalm 84 says, "the Lord of hosts!"

This title, the Lord of hosts", indicates that Jesus reigns as sovereign Lord in power. As Ross wrote, "it is a power over all forces on earth, a power that can transform bondage into freedom and adversity onto progress. It is a title that indicates that all armies in heaven and on earth are at his disposal to carry out his plans." Another way to say what Ross wrote is to say: When life be life-ing Jesus be Jesus-ing.

Everything is under His power and you are under His loving gaze. Sin, Satan and people may believe that they have won the day against you. At times you may believe the same But Ezra speaks different word and the gospel concludes a better word about Christ saying that "he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

The truth is that life will be always be life-ing. There is not end to this. Suffering and hardships will come in one form and or in one season or another. Here, however, is the soul's stabilizing truth: Jesus will always be Jesus-ing. He will take your very adversaries and make them work for your good!

So build, beloved; BUILD!