I really miss bring able to run whenever I want.
It’s not for the lack of wanting to exercise but instead because of damaged cartilage in my knees.
For a guy who ran competitively through high school and college, this is a disappointing status. But I have many other blessings so I’m more than grateful to God for the memories of what used to be running-wise.
I was reminded of my past and my present yearning during my Bible reading this morning.
II Chronicles 30 contains an interesting reference to the use of runners to spread the call for revival in the nation of Israel, even though Hezekiah officially reigned in Judah, the southern kingdom during the centuries of a divided Israel.
King Hezekiah had been inspired by the Lord to resume the passover celebration and he wanted to quickly get the word out to all the Hebrews, regardless of past hard feelings between the southern and northern kingdoms.
Check out the message Hezekiah sent through men not on fleet horses but men relying only on their pumping legs….
“At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said:
‘O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings. Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which He has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.
‘For if you return to the Lord , your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to Him, He will not continue to turn His face from you.’” (vv. 6-9)
Wow. Men selected to run from town to town to town with messages from the King who had been inspired by the Lord.
This wasn’t a time for walking. Time was of the essence to lead the people into national repentance and worship and restoration.
Some people did respond, fortunately, but most didn’t.
“The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.”
This reaction wasn’t the runners’ fault.
The runners did what they were called to do.
Listen, you and I aren’t called to carry the message of the gospel via running legs. But we are to view the call to connecting with God as a top priority.
Sure, many will make fun of our faith, but that reflects on them, not on us.
The big crowd of people who eventually gathered in Jerusalem for the passover wouldn’t have been there if the runners had quit at the first towns that laughed at them.
They kept running. They didn’t even lose some of their motivation and simply start walking from town to town.
The runners played a huge role in the national revival that followed.
Just like we read in Hebrews 12:1, let’s keep running the race of faith and testimony.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
You probably won’t physically run to help a discouraged, disgruntled or discombobulated person today with words of scripture and actions of Christlike love. But I do encourage you to proceed with haste because we’re called to build bridges with people who need spiritual restoration.
Yes, some co-workers or relatives might laugh at our beliefs and self-sacrificing practices. But others might listen and join us. Just as with the restored passover celebration in Hezekiah’s day, it will be an awesome experience when some to whom we “ran” join us in worship and personal consecration.
As always, I love you
Martin
