God did the work

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. – Nehemiah 6.14-16

Here is why staying on in the work is so important. It is not about making a name for us. It is not about for the glory of our country. We don’t stay and fight so everyone will say what a great Christian we are. We do the work not to make a name for us – but so that the world might know that God did the work.

The wall was done. Because Nehemiah would not be deterred after fifty-two days they accomplished their mission.

And the enemies we disheartened.

Why?

Because they ‘perceived that the work was done by God.’

Even the enemies knew that this was an impossible job. But Nehemiah and his men did the impossible because ‘nothing is impossible with God.’ What a testimony to a doubting world!

Our world mocks us today. We are ridiculed by the media and by the entertainment. Christians are often portrayed as dolts who even as the enemy. I realise that there are some who feed that notion, but that is what the world thinks about all of us.

But that’s okay. They mocked Nehemiah too. It was only when he kept going that the people realised that it was not Nehemiah and the people who did the work. It was God.

And one day the world will realise that all this time God has been at work. Our names will not be remembered – but God's name will.

That is all that matters.