Return to Him

Return to Him – He’ll return to you

4^th prophetic period (Zechariah's ministry era approximately 538-516 B.C.)

Zechariah 1.3. "Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: `Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, `and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty."

There was a time when Elisha, experiencing great stress, cried out, "Where now is the Lord the God of Elijah?" 2 Kings 2:14 You might have wondered that from time to time.

Elisha was probably feeling very much alone and on his own. His mentor and friend, Elijah, had just disappeared - and there were skeptics watching Elisha.

The Apostle John relates the story of Mary Magdalene coming to the garden tomb early that first Easter Sunday morning. She comes face to face with Jesus but doesn't recognize him. She is crying. "Why are you crying?'' he asked her. "Whom are you looking for?'' John 20:15

Mary was probably feeling very much alone and without hope for the future. Her mentor and friend had been killed and now his body was missing. Her world had become hostile and confusing.

Zechariah was ministering to the people as they were beginning the rebuilding of the temple. Haggai had called the people to this task only two months before the occasion of this sermon of Zechariah's. The first group of the exiled Jews had returned to Jerusalem sixteen years earlier. They were now living securely in very nice homes and had just recently started work on the central structure of the old holy city, the temple.

The people had returned physically to the 'City of their God' and yet Zechariah was calling them to "Return to...the Lord Almighty."

We can be where we are supposed to be, physically, and yet not be anywhere near where we want, or need, to be spiritually. We can see everything in familiar terms and terrain, and still feel very much alone, on our own, without hope for the future, or fragile and in desperate need of comfort. We can feel all or any of that while very busy and in the middle of a crowd of people.

We find ourselves wondering "Where is God...?" and somehow can't see Jesus standing before us asking, "Why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?"

If we will "seek the Lord with a whole heart" as David, and Jeremiah four hundred years later, entreated us - He will hear us, He will bless us, He will reveal Himself to us.

There is the answer to our loneliness, hopelessness, fear and sorrow..."I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known." In the Garden by C. Austin Miles