Fixing the Broken

Fixing the Broken
Zech 1-5
“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
For 70 years the nation of Israel had been exiled from the land and in bondage to Babylon.  Life seemed hopeless as Babylon maintained control.  However, there was a flicker of Hope when Darius had defeated Babylon, and the words of the Prophet Jeremiah had predicted that after 70 years the nation would return to the land.  As Zechariah comes on the scene, there was the hope of the return that had been prophesied by Jeremiah.  But how was Israel going to obtain their freedom?  They had no military, no political clout, nothing that would enable them to obtain permission to return to the land.
This brings us to the same issue we are confronted with today. How do we find hope in a world without hope? How do we fix broken lives? How do we fix a world marred by conflict, disunity, and confusion? The same questions the people of Israel asked are the same questions we face today. But it is more than just global and political; the brokenness of our world affects us individually as well. We face the uncertainty and struggles of life, and something deep within us cries for help and answers, yet they seem elusive. The more we try to fix our lives, the more we are confronted with how unfixable life seems. We wrestle not only with questions on a global level but also on a personal level.
The answer that God gave Israel is the same answer we need in our own lives. First, we cannot find the answers to life by our own power. This word refers not just to physical strength but also to the physical things of life we rely upon, including our wealth and property. We often think that if we get enough money, prestige, and influence, we can solve our problems and be free from the pressures of life. But wealth is deceptive, and power and status are an illusion. The more we have, the more empty we feel inside. The recognition we receive from others only makes us feel emptier. The second word can also refer to physical strength, but it can also refer to mental strength. Just as wealth is an illusion, intellectual and mental capacities are also an illusion. Friedrich Nietzsche suffered from severe mental health issues. William James Sidis is regarded by many as the smartest person who ever lived. He passed the entrance exam at Harvard at age 9 and by age 11 was lecturing at Harvard, but he died a penniless recluse at age 46.  The greatest thinkers of our world are powerless to change the world.
However, we are not hopeless, for God provides the answer for effective and lasting change and hope. It is found in the presence of God’s Spirit. God can accomplish what humanity cannot. If you are looking for answers in life, do not look to the world, to the great thinkers of our culture, or to the powerful politicians, for they will fail. Instead, look to God, for he never does.