SAY “OH, NO” TO YOUR ONO

“Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it, although at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates, Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were plotting to harm me. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:1-3 NASB)

Nehemiah’s enemies had attempted to stop the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem many time. They had tried mockery, conspiracy, extortion, compromise, and slander. None of those attempts by the opposition were successful. The work continued. As a matter of fact, the wall was completed on the 25^th day of Elu (August-September) in fifty-two days. Just like our experience in our lives, the opposition persist in trying to stop our kingdom building work and discredit out witness. The same was true for Nehemiah. His enemies, as you read in the text above, invited Nehemiah to the plain of Ono, 19 miles north of Jerusalem, planning to kill him. I assume they thought without the leadership of Nehemiah, they could regain power over God’s people. Actually, even today, that assumption is false. Why? Well, because devoted Christians will continue the work even when the leader is not around. You see, we know that the mark of good leadership is when those following him/her continue to work with the same enthusiasm, the same, energy, and the same effort, even when the leader is not present.

Focus on Nehemiah’s response. “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” An abbreviated response to the opposition’s invite would sound something like this, “Oh, no! to Ono!”

Don’t miss the point! My friend, we face all kinds of opposition: self, the secular world, social media, Satanic influence, struggling health, and emotional stimuli to name a few. However, when the opposition tries to get you to leave your work as one of Jesus’ disciples, leave your work as His testimony, leave your work to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, leave your work to go ye therefore and make disciples, or leave your work of pressing upward living by the principles expounded on in Christ’s teaching, that is your Ono. Let me tell you what to do. Just say, “Oh, no!”

“Oh, No!” – “I’m not yielding to that temptation!”  “Oh, No!” – “I’m not stepping out of the light to spend time in your darkness!” “Oh, No!” – “What you are inviting me to do does not align with God’s will as written in His Holy Word!” “Oh, No!” – “I’m not going to that place to play worldly games!” “Oh, No!” – “I’m not going to spend my time filling my head with worthless stuff when I can get in the word and get valuable wisdom to help me live a righteous life.” “Oh, No!” – “I’m going to be a good steward of what God has giving me, including my treasure, my talents, and my time.”

Satan might have tried to keep you from reading any further, but I hope you said, “Oh, No!” – “I’m finishing this piece to see the specific message that God has sent specifically for me today!”

I’m glad you kept reading, because I want to tell supplement what you read above with a great example. Let’s talk Jesus. Jesus used the “Oh, No” to Ono type opposition on more than one occasion. Think about it! In His own words, He said it when Satan tried to tempt Him at the start of His ministry! He said it when they tried to make Him an earthly king! He said it when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane!  He said it by not calling a legion of angels to rescue Him from the cross; the cross where He died for you and me to pay the price for our sins.

Nehemiah is a good role model for saying “Oh, No!’ to Ono. However, Jesus is the best role model, the greatest of all time! Ain’t no argument about that last statement! “Oh, No!” Have a great day! Be blessed!

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King