Scratching the Surface of Zechariah

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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Scratching the Surface of Zechariah

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    Like Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and collective prophetic utterance, Zechariah is all about building upon the best of the past for a better as in more faithful present and future; especially in preparation for the coming of the Messiah to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

    With eight visions often as apocalyptically obtuse as Ezekiel, Daniel, and John's Revelation, it helps to recall Grandpa Kopp's counsel, "Don't miss the forest for the trees!"

    Succinctly, Zechariah is all about restoring broken parts of our relationship with God in honor of His reign as Source, Starter, Sovereign, and Savior.

    Moreover, God declares His imminent and everlasting victory through Zechariah: "Here's what I will do...I will turn back to Jerusalem with that mercy they've missed for 70 years.  My temples will be rebuilt...My cities will once again be prosperous, they will overflow."

    While too many people under-estimate God as Source, Starter, Sovereign, and Savior, Zechariah is reminding us that we sell God short by longing for the way things never were or maybe were but are no more.  He is saying God can do more than we can ever imagine if we receive Him afresh by repenting to Him afresh.

    But let God speak for Himself: "Sing out loud and be happy,...because you will see Me coming and I will live among you."

    Messiah Jesus!

    Holy Spirit!

    Three in One as Source, Starter, Sovereign, and Savior!

    Again, hear His good news for the faithful: "Your strength and prowess will not be enough to finish My temple, but My Spirit will be!"

    Sounds familiar: "Go and make disciples...Be My witnesses to the ends of the earth...Show them how to follow the commands I have laid down for you.  And I will be with you, day after day, to the end of the age."

    Zechariah is the gospeler that things can be much better now than before with God and heavenly in the end by staying with God: "I will whistle for My people and gather them in, for I will redeem them, rescue them, ransom them...I will give strength to My people, and in My name will they live."

    In other words, it can be on earth as it is in heaven right now and always by sticking with God!

    Or as Zechariah echoes the most consistent theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, "The people of Jerusalem cannot be beaten because God leads them."

    God wins!

    Do we look and act like we know the final score?

    Do we look and act like we beat all of His enemies who are our enemies who are His enemies who are our enemies?

    Do we look and act like He rose from the dead and reigns as Source, Starter, Sovereign, and Savior?

    Would an alien from somewhere out there be convinced that we're already celebrating the victory by how we look and act?

    If the answer is yes, we get it/Him!

    Again, it's like Lloyd Ogilvie often asked me after not seeing each other for any length of time, "Are you more in love with Jesus than the last time I saw you?"

    Do we look like we're more in love with Jesus than the last time we saw each other?

    One way or the other, it/He shows!

    When we know it's not about us or anyone else but Him, it's hard to stay down too long about life's miscreants, meanness, madness, and misery.

    When we know the final score, it's hard to fret over the score in the middle of the game.

    We know how it ends!

    We know Who/who wins!

    That's why God's people are calm, sane, and strong; keeping their heads and hearts when all about 'em are losing theirs.

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    ...to be continued...

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Blessings and Love!