The semester is over, I’m sorry, what? The semester is over? I literally feel like I was just beginning this whirlwind of journey, and it’s already half way over. It’s hard to believe that about 3 months ago, I did not want to be doing what I am doing today. I was absolutely terrified; I was terrified of being broken.
I can’t even begin to explain the brokenness that’s happened this semester within my heart, but simultaneously how good it has been. I have been confronted with sin that I have never even begun to explore before this point in my life. I have also felt as if I was drinking out of fire hose at times with the amount of information that has been offered my way. I won’t go into all of the brokenness that’s been in my heart… for now, but I will say that never in my life have I enjoyed learning more about Scripture and how applicable it is for eternity than in this period of my life. This is the coolest thing for me to finally allow to set in: stories in Scripture happened, but they help us draw nearer to the Lord. I know this may seem like such an elementary thought, but letting this dwell within my heart is incredible. One of the most incredible things that I have learned is also how to use Scripture to help others, especially those who are maybe struggling with difficult situations in their lives. A wonderful way to help those struggling with specific concepts can be to point them to the prophets.
Confession time: I’m a huge nerd. Now, you may be asking yourself “What in the world does being a nerd have to do with anything that you have just mentioned”? Well, to answer your question, it has everything to do with it! We have recently been learning about Old Testament Prophets, and I am a total nerd for them. I am one of the most factual individual’s, I love to study and learn, and most off all I always want to know everything about everything. This can often be a struggle for me, in that I catch myself falling in love with Theology instead of Jesus, but I will say that these past few weeks have been incredible for helping that sin.
As I mentioned before, I have always struggled with wanting to know all of the facts and to simply fill my brain up with all the facts. These past few weeks revealed that there is so much more to just “the facts”. For me, it is important to know the background of Biblical things, but the application process is just as important. As we began studying these prophets, I was able to see how practical they really are. Once again, I know that this may seem like such a naïve thought, but my mind was blown with how important these dudes were! Daniel in chapter 9 predicts the coming of a Messiah to the day, how people don’t just get their minds blown I don’t know! On top of Daniel some of the other prophets are great to take people to when they are struggling with specific aspects of their lives. For example, someone who may be trying to grasp salvation and how it is available to all, Jonah is a great book to take them to. The Assyrians were nasty people, flat out mean, but God sent Jonah there to deliver the message of the Father. This is a wonderful book in showing Jonah’s flesh in that he even doubts why he is even going to a place such as this because the people are so evil that there is no way that they can attain salvation, but once again God has a different plan. Another book to show to someone who may be dealing with the idea of suffering, Habakkuk is wonderful. Habakkuk complains, God answers, he complains, God answers, and finally he realizes that no matter what the circumstances may be, the Lord is still sovereign. And in addition to his sovereignty, God has promised us that this life on earth is going to be difficult and we are to rejoice in Him always, no matter what the circumstances.
These are just a few examples of the prophets and how they can help in situations that we face today. I know that this was great for me to hear, especially because suffering and salvation are not issues that have just disappeared from struggle in my life, as well as others (just to name a few of the struggles that we all have). It is also so fascinating to see how the prophets fit into the history of the Bible, and how spot on they all are. There are so many prophecies made about the Messiah coming that are always accurate, and there are tons of prophecies made about the coming of Christ and the end times. If we know that all of these prophets were correct in regards to Jesus, why do we not trust that they will also be accurate in what is to come? Well, that’s our flesh, and that’s something I struggle with daily… yeah that’s still an understatement. But how great that we have something such as Scripture to cling to, but more importantly, how wonderful that we have a God to cling to. A God that does not lie, promises us eternity, if we only follow Him. If only I would open up the pages of my Bible and read the promises that He has freely given.
“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, listen carefully and take heart all the words I speak to you.” Ezekiel 3:10”
