Old Wineskins
"But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes."
– Ezra 3:12
God often works through a remnant of people. We have seen that in the story of Gideon, where the Lord shows Himself strong (Judges 7:1-25). God even has a remnant when it seems that the world is in its darkest hour, and it appears that God’s people are nowhere to be found. We see this in the life of Elijah. When the prophet was running from Jezebel, Elijah was shown a revelation by the Lord. He began to explain to the Lord that he was the only one left and that all others had forsaken God. Although a godly man, Elijah’s perspective was off. God told him, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:11-18). God made it clear that Elijah was not the only one standing strong. Although we may feel like we are the only people remaining firm against the enemy, we must remember that the Lord preserves and prepares who He will. If He is working in your heart, you can be sure He is working in the hearts of others. We are not left alone.
It was the same for this small group returning to Israel from captivity. There were different age groups in the remnant. God was doing incredible work through them. They had come back to Jerusalem, and the Temple’s foundation was laid. In response, the people brought out the worship team, and they shouted and praised the Lord together. God was working in all of their hearts. Not only were there those praising God, but you also had some weeping. These were the people old enough to remember Solomon’s Temple and its former glory. The Temple that many from around the world would see when they came to hear Solomon’s wisdom (1 Kings 4:34; Matthew 12:42). It did not seem they were too impressed with the foundation stones of the new Temple. They remembered the past without looking at what God was doing at that moment in time.
With each generation, we must be careful, especially those of us who have been in the church for a long-time. It is easy to become an “old wineskin.” When Jesus was talking with the Pharisees who were set in their ways, He said, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22). Old wineskins could be restored if they were soaked in water. They can once again become pliable. It is the same with us. We can immerse ourselves in the Word of God and be filled with His Spirit. Just because you and I may have been walking with the Lord for many years, we do not have to be old and set in our ways. We can be renewed daily with the Spirit of God and we will be able to receive the new things God might want to do today.
For many years I have heard people say that the Jesus Movement in the 1970s was very radical. And I know that it was. But, it was revolutionary for that time. The Lord is still moving today, and He has not stopped. If the Lord came back at that time, then how many people would not have been saved from that time until now? In one sense, I pray that Jesus comes back for us soon, but on the other hand, I pray He comes back in His perfect time, not mine. We do not know who else the Lord might call between then and now. While we wait with anticipation, may we share Christ with others fervently.
"Our Lord didn't come to extend or project the Law of the Old Testament system or of religion. He came to introduce something new. And that which is new will be the fact that He will die for the sins of the world. New wine goes into new wine skins, A new garment goes onto a new man. That robe of righteousness comes down on one who through faith has become a son of God. This is a tremendous thing!"
– J. Vernon McGee