3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us” ~ Ezra 4:3
Listen to what Zerubbabel declared concerning a secular, and if I may say so, heathen king: “We alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” Zerubbabel was not being unkind for the sake of pride. He was making a clear and necessary distinction. Those who approached them were not part of the covenant people. They had no rightful share in the work. Therefore Zerubbabel and the leaders with him refused their help. The rebuilding of the house of God would be done by those to whom the command had been given, and by them alone.
We who belong to Christ also have a mandate from our King and God. He has commanded us to preach the Good News of His kingdom in all the world, so that people may hear, believe, and accept the sacrifice of our LORD Jesus on the cross of Calvary. In this way His Church is to be built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and His shed blood. The work is holy. The foundation is exclusive. No other name is given under heaven by which we must be saved.
Yet in our day we often act as though the opposite were true. We want to include all those who have no genuine part with us—Muslims, Hindus, those who blend other religions with a claim to follow Christ, and anyone who prays to other gods. Because we are politically correct, we are afraid of offending anyone. Therefore, we become so inclusive that we will not exclude anyone, no matter what. We treat a simple profession—“I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus”—as automatic inclusion, regardless of lifestyle or unrepentant ways.
But Jesus Himself warned us that this is not how it works. Not everyone who cries “LORD, LORD” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will claim His Name while remaining strangers to His authority. True faith requires more than words. A person must forsake and leave behind all falsehood and wickedness. He must come to Jesus to have his sins forgiven, and his heart sprinkled with the shed blood of the Lamb. Then he must live for the LORD exclusively, because Christ has purchased us with His own death and resurrection and has given us eternal life. There is no room for divided loyalty.
Heavenly Father, I come to You asking for Your forgiveness. Teach me Your ways that I might serve You with a pure heart and clean hands. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.