Conviction

Nehemiah 13:6-7 While this's was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artexerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the King and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil...

Nehemiah 13:4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering...

Nehemiah 13:I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. So I confronted the officials and said, 'Why is the house of God forsaken?

Nehemiah 13:15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food..What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

Nehemiah's absence

How long was Nehamiah gone? It is an unknown amount of time. We can say that it took approximately 55 days to travel from Jerusalem to Susa (ESV Study Bible). He said he was in Susa, 'for some time'. While Nehemiah was gone the people, including the priests, turned away from following the Lord wholeheartedly. Why? Did they face starvation? Did they face persecution? We do not know. 

We do know that while Nehemiah was leading the people to rebuild the wall the people faced major threat of attack from the outside. We know that while Nehemiah was there pressures abounded for the people to forsake following the Lord. So why now? Why did they forsake following the Lord while Nehemiah was gone?

The answer is simple: conviction. Nehemiah followed the Lord with wholehearted conviction and settled for nothing less from God's people. Nehemiah considered any wavering from the commands of God completely unacceptable. When Nehemiah left, the true heart of the people rose to the surface. They lacked conviction.

Current Christian Climate

When I look at the landscape of American Christianity today I see this and much worse. Do we follow the Lord with wholehearted conviction? Do we consider any wavering from the commands of God unacceptable? For the most part, we do not. Our conviction is weak and our communities are shallow. Why?

What will it take for the people of God to return to cherishing the Lord and his ways? What will it take for the people of God to hold the Lord in such high esteem that it would be considered unimaginable to allow sin to have a foothold? The answer is simple: conviction.

While I do not view myself or any other modern leader a 'Nehemiah' figure I do see the need for leaders with conviction to rise up in the Christian community that call the people of God back to the ways of God. This cannot be done as a form of legalism or ritualistim, but passionate, Holy Spirit inspired conviction. God's people need to cherish the Lord and his ways if they want to see him work in and through them in mighty ways.

Nehemiah's effort was for the purpose of re-establishing God's community in this world. This was preparation for the King of Kings to come. He did come. Jesus came and showed us what true faithfulness and wholehearted devotion looked like even unto death. In his death he took on himself the punishment of our sins. In his resurrection he defeated death and secured our eternal life. He offers restoration. He calls us to repent.

Our response

It all starts with you (and me). Are you living a life of conviction? Do you cherish the Lord and his ways? Is it unthinkable to hold on to sin? If not, take this moment to turn away from your sin and back to him. Express to him your sorrow for unfaithfulness. And live a life of conviction!