Title: There is always hope
Contents
Zechariah (10) There is always hope (Zechariah 3:1-5)
< The vision of the high priest Joshua >
On November 24, in the 2nd year of King Darius, Zechariah sees eight visions at the same time. In the text, the fourth vision among those visions, “the vision of Joshua the high priest,” appears. In that vision, Joshua the high priest, the highest religious leader in Zechariah's day, stood before the angel of the Lord (Christ), and Satan stood at the right hand of Joshua and opposed him (verse 1).
The saints have three great enemies. As the 3S in English, they are Sin (sin), Self (self), and Satan. If you know all the problems and pains, these ‘three great enemies’ are the starting point of the problem. Also, the problem is not with someone pointing the finger, but with Satan manipulating behind that person. Only when you know the essence of the problem right away can you come up with a solution. Now, instead of looking at only the problem, develop a spiritual eye that can see behind the problem.
In particular, this scene suggests that the main target of Satan's attack is the church leader. If one church leader collapses, the entire church can easily collapse, and at the same time, it can easily destroy families and individual souls. How can Satan be so focused on the leader's attack? Although the church leader is not the giver of blessings, if the church leader is right there, the path of blessing is wide open to the members who follow him. After all, prayer for church leaders is the most important thing to prepare for the future blessed life.
At that time, God's people were like 'scorched wood taken out of the fire' (verse 2), and even the appearance of the high priest Joshua was clothed in filthy clothes (verse 3). How miserable is the situation? But God removes Joshua's dirty clothes, puts on beautiful clothes, and puts a clean crown on his head (verses 4-5). Looking at that scene, I realize that there is hope even for the charred trees. If God intervenes with a good hand, hope will begin from that point on.
<There is always hope>
In verse 2 of the text, we think of John Wesley, a world-famous revivalist and founder of Methodism. When his house caught fire at the age of six, he nearly died and was dramatically rescued from burns in the fire. So, there were traces of burns on his body, and because of that, he always lived with the words of verse 2 in his heart. “I was a charred tree saved from fire.” Let the wounded memories float like water under the bridge, and the memories of grace are engraved on the heart board. The blessings of the future are given when we do not forget the grace of the past.
He returned to England with tuberculosis, like a remnant. And while fighting the disease in London, on May 24, 1738, I happened to attend a small evening meeting of the Moravian Saints. Then a young man read Romans 1:17. “In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, from faith to faith, as it is written, The righteous will live by faith.” Those words, which he was familiar with, hit his chest from day to day, and then the burning flame of faith was ignited, and the 'burnt coal' became a 'flaming fire'.
He wrote in advance a prayer to be engraved on his tombstone when he was battling a disease. "God! Have pity on this useless servant. The burnt out Wesley lay here.” After writing the last prayer and waiting for death at the age of 35, I experienced grace and my body was healed. After that, he lived until the age of 88, preached 42,400 sermons in his lifetime, left over 200 religious books, and eventually became the founder of Methodism.
Life, like burnt charcoal, has hope. You just have to not forget the grace of God. Even if there is grace, if you do not remember grace, you will never have a blessed life. Forgetfulness of wounds is better, but no forgetfulness of grace is better. There is no despair in those who have an excellent memory of the grace they have received. Enjoy tomorrow's blessings by moving forward with the 'full of hope' that is created through the memories you have been blessed with.