God promised the children of Israel that if they transgressed, He would scatter them across the face of the earth, but that if they turn again and seek His face, He will bring them back to their land. Israel digressed and it’s city gates were burned, it’s city walls broken down. The city of Jerusalem was violated. Nehemiah on hearing what had happened to Jerusalem and the Israelites, did not waste time. He went on His knees and confessed the sins of his country men, imploring God to forgive and restore the nation. Nehemiah asked God to allow him be a part of the rebuilding process. God granted Nehemiah his request and gave him favor in the sight of the King of Babylon, Artaxerxes. Nehemiah, despite the stiff opposition he faced, was able to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. But he had to act quickly. (Feel free to read the entire account in the book of Nehemiah).
The quote below summarizes this message:
…Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: …And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss; – Rudyard Kipling
It is never too late to rebuild. Nothing material is lost permanently, it only changed hands, and it can come back to you again if you will get up and rebuild quickly. You serve a God of second chances. His mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness is great. You may have been hung over last night, but today is a new day to rebuild, quickly. You may have thrown an entire year away hanging out with the wrong crowd, heck, you may have thrown an entire decade away pursuing things that ought to pursue you. But this is a new day, this is a new decade, this is a new opportunity. You can rebuild again, quickly. Don’t doubt for a moment that you can rebuild. Don’t doubt that you can regain lost territory. You can. Have you recently gone through a devastating job loss, divorce, loss of a relationship, loss of faith. Get on your knees, pray to God and begin to rebuild again, quickly – Now.
“…Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come , and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach”. – Nehemiah 2:17