Hope in the Valley of Death
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones…there were very many lying in the valley, and behold: they were very dry.
Reading Ezekiel 37 yesterday I couldn’t help thinking of the Canterbury area. Someone in ministry nearby has dubbed it ‘the Valley of Death.’ Almost every Christian ministry there has withered and many have died, over the past 50 years. There’s not much left. Just a few scattered churches here and there, mostly tiny and struggling. The Valley of Death. Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones represented the ruined house of Israel; our valley is the ruins of the church of Christ.
He said to me, “Son of Adam, can these bones live?”
That’s the $64000 question, isn’t it. Can these bones live? Has God finished with the people of the Canterbury area? Has he put them in the ‘too hard’ basket, thrown in the towel, and packed up and left? Is Canterbury City one place that Jesus just can’t seem to bring his grace and kingdom to?
We don’t think so.
What makes us so very confident in planning this mission is that we know Christ’s claim over this area, over these precious people. Jesus has plans of grace for them. He intends to be Lord in Canterbury, to bring new life to the valley of death. We are merely going to tell them!
What makes us so very confident is that we know his powerful Spirit – we, like Ezekiel, are calling on him to pour that Spirit out on the dry bones.
Can these bones live? Read the rest of the story, Ezekiel 37: 4-14, and find out!
Looking forward to that mighty rattling sound, Jonathan. I expect to hear it even from all the way across Sydney.
Where better to show off God’s sovereign power as Creator and Redeemer than the valley of death? Prime location to expect God’s spirit to move spectacularly – for the glory of His name, to fulfil His plan for all the nations, and to inspire every other barren place with hope.
Yeah, I like that last bit, about inspiring other barren places. (Think of what the adopt-a-block guys at Berkely have done for mission morale in Sydney). Also makes me feel good about being so weak and unimpressive!
God bless you in this ministry. The best pastors are the ones who should be choosing to serve in the difficult areas. You are God’s best for this mission. Believe it. May God bring those dead bones back to life as you are faithful to His call.