In his book, The Screw Tape Letters, the late C.S. Lewis teaches readers that one of the ways the enemy keeps us from obediently and fully following God is by keeping us distracted. It is not hard for Christ Followers to become distracted in our day and age. We have social media, our phones, and other obligations keeping us from focusing on the things God has called for us to do. These things distract us and keep us from having the impact for Christ that we all want to have. This tactic of keeping us distracted is very apparent in the story of Nehemiah when he took on God's call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah chapter 2. He asked King Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, for permission to return to the Southern Kingdom of Judah to rebuild the Jerusalem walls. He was the cupbearer of the king at the time. The king answered his request. He allowed Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem's wall. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and gathered people together to rebuild the wall. Not everyone was pleased that the Wall of Jerusalem was being rebuilt. There were enemies of Judah who did not want to see the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Despite the opposition to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Jeremiah and the rest of the people working to rebuild the walls made significant progress. Nehemiah 6 reveals that they had finished rebuilding the walls, and all that was left was putting the doors in the gates (verse 1). When some of Judah's enemies found out that they had almost finished their project, they sent a message to Nehemiah asking him to stop working and meet them (verse 2). They did this four times. Nehemiah knew that they were trying to stop him from his work, so each time, he said, "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come" (verse 3). Finally, Nehemiah and the people of Judah added the doors, and the walls were complete. Nehemiah refused to be distracted or let his fellow Jews be distracted from rebuilding Jerusalem's walls.
Nehemiah’s determination to complete his God-given task serves as a reminder to us. Because we are followers of Christ, we have been given a task: to know Christ and make Him known. Will we live with the dedication of Nehemiah, or will we let distractions get in the way?
What is keeping you distracted? Is it your phone? Is it your busy schedule? Is it something else? Whatever is distracting you today, choose to let go of that for today. See how God might speak to you and use the extra time you have to know Him and make Him known.
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.
But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said:
“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’
“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”
9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
10 Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”
11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.
14 Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.
15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah. 18 For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.
