Housecleaning

If you want people to get your message, put it on a billboard. If you want every passerby to see the billboard, light it up. If you want everybody talking about it—well, there are ways to do that too, none of which can be described in a devotional booklet.

In Zechariah's vision, God puts his message on a flying billboard intended to be seen and talked about. It's a very important public announcement—no subtlety here, no quiet Spirit's voice. You see this message even if your spiritual eyes are glazed over. And the message is . . . Sin gets punished!

Stealing and lying are offensive to God. Thieves and perjurers won't get away with their crimes. God's truth and justice will find you and render to you all you deserve. Life is not a moral free-for-all.

This flying billboard's message sounds quite different from the forgiveness offered just three visions ago. There the "sin of this land" was removed in a single day (Zechariah 3:9). Here sin is punished most certainly. Mixed messages?

The sin punished here is entrenched opposition to God, belligerent indifference to God's rule. Always God offers forgiveness and urges us toward wholeness and restoration. But square off against God—declare your right to remake your life on your own plan—and this flying billboard's message is aimed squarely at you. Be warned!

Prayer: I am stubborn, Lord. Change my heart to follow you.

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