“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Hebrews 11:16
The book of Nehemiah was written against the backdrop of exile—when God’s people lacked a place on the earth and doubted their place with God. But God gave Nehemiah a great privilege: the opportunity to return home to Jerusalem and lead the rebuilding of the temple. However—spoiler alert—the story doesn’t exactly end well.
Thomas Wolfe’s 1934 novel is titled You Can’t Go Home Again. That title captures the thrust of both Nehemiah’s time and our own lives. All is far from lost here and now, and God lovingly bestows blessing upon blessing in our brokenness. But this present life will never feel like home. In the end, we can’t go home again because we were made for a better country—a country prepared for us by Jesus Christ.
With this in mind, we will meditate in this month’s Anchor on the book of Nehemiah and what it means to rebuild our lives out of the ruins of sin, suffering, and shame. Most importantly, we will meditate on how Christ has worked on our behalf and continues to work in us by His sheer love and grace.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chaplain Stephen L. Roberts
Chaplain Major Stephen Roberts has served with the U.S. Army for 14 years, now at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The men and women he engages with appreciate his counseling, his spiritual insights, and his convincing biblical approaches to current cultural issues. He has been a church-based evangelist, a vice-president for Joy to the World Ministries, and a contributing writer—both in print and online—for various Christian media outlets. He and his wife Lindsey enjoy sharing good books and exploring where they live. They befriend anyone the Lord puts in their path. Also they are kept on their toes and kept in delight raising their three creative, precious young children.
Thomas Wolfe’s 1934 novel is titled You Can’t Go Home Again. That title captures the thrust of both Nehemiah’s time and our own lives. All is far from lost here and now, and God lovingly bestows blessing upon blessing in our brokenness. But this present life will never feel like home. In the end, we can’t go home again because we were made for a better country—a country prepared for us by Jesus Christ.
With this in mind, we will meditate in this month’s Anchor on the book of Nehemiah and what it means to rebuild our lives out of the ruins of sin, suffering, and shame. Most importantly, we will meditate on how Christ has worked on our behalf and continues to work in us by His sheer love and grace.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chaplain Stephen L. Roberts
Chaplain Major Stephen Roberts has served with the U.S. Army for 14 years, now at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The men and women he engages with appreciate his counseling, his spiritual insights, and his convincing biblical approaches to current cultural issues. He has been a church-based evangelist, a vice-president for Joy to the World Ministries, and a contributing writer—both in print and online—for various Christian media outlets. He and his wife Lindsey enjoy sharing good books and exploring where they live. They befriend anyone the Lord puts in their path. Also they are kept on their toes and kept in delight raising their three creative, precious young children.
Scripture Focus
Hebrews 11:13-16
Insight
It is Christ alone who enables us to rebuild from the ruins. And He will do it!
Bible In A Year
- 1 Samuel 1-2
- Psalm 120
- 1 Corinthians 14
