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Day 7 – Privileged Few Ezra 8 We have all tried to be part of something – sports, debates, activities of all types, but only a few are chosen and those not chosen depart in rejection. What would happen if everyone who wanted to be part of those activities could be? All you needed to do was sign up and you were in. Cyrus, king of Persia, Darius, king of Persia, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia told the Jews that whoever wanted to go to Jerusalem to build the temple of God was free to go. You might think there would be a mass exodus from Babylon going back to Jerusalem. However, that is not the case. When you add up all the numbers mentioned who went with Ezra back to Jerusalem, the total is 1,616 people who went back being the chief of their fathers, priests, Levites, and Nethinims who served the Levites. This is beside the number mentioned previously of those who went back initially 49,897. Considering the number of Jews in Judah at the time of their captivity, this is a very small number. Not everyone wanted to go home. Consider the number of people who left Egypt for the Promised Land, over a million strong, and of that number how many wanted to leave Egypt. With all the complaining the children of Israel did in the wilderness, you know some of them would have stayed in Egypt. So it should not be surprising that the number of people returning from their captivity is so small. Those were the ones who wanted to return home, those who missed it, and wanted to reclaim their land. The question has been asked of us today. Do you want to go home? Only home for us is heaven, and the only way to get there is through Jesus Christ, our Savior. If you say yes to Jesus Christ, you’re in. You’re on your way home, just like all the Jews who were given the opportunity to go home to build the temple. We won’t be building the temple in heaven. It’s already built, and so much better than the original. However, we will be able to worship our God in heaven, and sit in His presence, and enjoy eternity with Him. Never more will we need to fear that someone will take us captive again. Satan will have his final reward in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Temptation will be past. Ours will be the joy of eternal life with Father God, Jesus, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit. Who doesn’t want to go home? Yet we know many will not say yes to Jesus. Many will remain in their sin, accepting the false promises of Satan through his many temptations. They travel the wide road to destruction. Jesus said many are called, but few are chosen. Few are chosen because they refuse to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. I hope you have signed up to go home by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for the opportunity You gave me to go home through acceptance of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me stay on the straight and narrow path leading to eternal life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 24 January 2016 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay